Polo Times March 2020

Volume 25 • Issue 2 • March 2020 • £6.50

VACCINATIONS All you need to know 2020 SNOW POLO WORLD CUP Sun-kissed St. Moritz TECHNICAL FOCUS La Martina PLUS: SUPA Winter National Universities Championships

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“Polo Times is undoubtedly the most influential contemporary polo magazine” Contents Horace Laffaye

Contents Publisher Nick Hine publisher@polotimes.co.uk

What’s inside…

March 2020

Editor in Chief Richenda Hine richenda@polotimes.co.uk

Editorial Manager Jen Liggins editorial@polotimes.co.uk

Operations Manager Rosabella Hine rosabella@polotimes.co.uk

Marketing Manager Lottie McDonagh lottie@polotimes.co.uk

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Club Focus

Richard Hine ads@polotimes.co.uk

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Women’s Polo

Principal Design

50 5 mins with… Louisa Watt 50 A Round-Up of Women’s Polo 52 Statehood Day Women’s International, Manipur

James Morgan

Additional Design

Youth Polo

Tony Ruddy

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Lynne Berry admin@polotimes.co.uk

News

Financial Controller Angie Clark accounts@polotimes.co.uk

Accounts & Administration Assistant Rosalind Cutter ads@polotimes.co.uk Contributors: Matías Calléjo, Sebastian Dawnay, Aurora Eastwood, Lorna Edgar, Emmpix, Horseplay Productions, Gillian Hughes, Dr.med. Andreas Krüger, David Lominska, Alex Pacheco, Reinhardt & Sommer Photography, J Ridley Art & Photography Charles Sainsbury Plaice, ©Tony Ramirez/www.imagesofpolo.com, Suzannah Turk, Olly Tuthill, Jason Warren, WIPN

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www.polotimes.co.uk © Polo Times Limited 2020 and Database Right 2020 Polo Times Limited holds the copyright & database right to the information it publishes in Polo Times and on the Polo Times website. No content may be reproduced or distributed without the consent of the Publisher. ‘Polo Times’ is the trade mark of Polo Times Limited. ISSN 1461-4685

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Polo Times, March 2020

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

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Knowledge All the Latest News Obituaries: Sue Cudmore & Hugo Tuthill FIP News

Comment 16

Letters: Your Views & Social Media

Features

18 Big Picture 20 Cover Story: Technical Focus:

La Martina 23 Cover Story: Polo Times’ Guide to Vaccinations

Reports 26

32 34

38 40 42

Cover Story: SUPA Winter National Universities Championships All Aspects of Youth Polo

Cover Story: 36th Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz The HPA Winter Victor Ludorum The HPA National Club Championships 6 & 15 Goal Ylvisaker Cup All-Star Challenge Cup Paul Sweeney Memorial Cup

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Pony Power: Polo Times Best Playing Pony Series Nutrition Focus: Hanging in the Balance Fitness Insight: Climb the Fitness Ladder Part Five Polodoc: Next Level Performance

Sidelines 68

Sidelines: Social Pages

Polo Directory 76 78

What’s On? Club Listings & Classifieds Gossip: Don’t Be the Last to Know!

Final Bell 80

Passions: Sebastian Dawnay

SUBSCRIPTION PRICES All subscribers receive an exclusive weekly newsletter and competition offers

Call on +44 (0)1452 730 770 Subscribe online: www.polotimes.co.uk Cover photograph: The victorious St. Moritz team at The 36th Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz. Courtesy of Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz

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Polo Times, March 2020

The 2020 Test Series format is announced

Polo Times has had formal confirmation from the HPA of the new format of a Test series in 2020 for the Frasers England polo team. There have been misleading reports in some areas of polo media which has led to confusion and rumour-mongering. New for 2020, comprising of three polo matches in the Test series, rather than a one-off fixture, the opposing teams will be afforded all the benefits that are associated with playing together consecutively, rather than just once. The venues will also change, with Beaufort Polo Club being the first to be confirmed in the series, on Sunday 7 June 2020. This change in venues will, of course, not only present the teams with playing on different grounds and surfaces, but it will also open up polo and the Frasers England polo team, to a much wider audience.

An HPA spokesman commented, “After several months of planning, we are very pleased to announce that we are in final talks with the Pakistan Polo Association with the intention of putting together a three match Test series for Frasers England to play against Pakistan this summer. This is a fresh look for England polo, and it is hoped that this new format will increase opportunities for HPA members and the general public to see an England team play in what promises to be a very competitive series. As a result, The Coronation Cup has been put on hold, but it is planned that it will continue to be played by THE England polo team against a national team of similar handicap in future years.

“Chestertons Polo in the Park is now attended by a huge number of spectators and this year, a Frasers England team will play in that ‘arena-like’ format on the Friday and a Frasers Women’s team will also play on the Saturday, hopefully both against the USA. With an extended list of international fixtures in 2020, there will be more opportunities to play in and watch an England team this year.

“For The Coronation Cup, it was always going to be a challenge to move it from its longestablished venue at Guards. The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club were brave enough to take on that challenge and despite their best efforts to recreate the glory days, it has become apparent that the face of International polo has changed and those changes need adapting to.

The HPA are incredibly grateful to the team at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club for their investment in both time and resources in staging and running the last two International Days.”

Tommy Severn to Run the London Marathon Tommy Severn, a regular on polo fields across the country, has announced that he will be running The London Marathon in aid of The Starlight Children’s Foundation on 26 April. The charity grants wishes for terminally and critically ill children, with the average cost of granting each wish coming in at around £2,000. Tommy is looking for sponsorship for this great feat, hoping to aid as many children as possible in receiving their ultimate wish. If you would be interested in supporting Tommy on this great adventure, then please visit his Just Giving page.

Photograph courtesy of Tommy Severn

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UK 2020 Test Series

Photograph by Charles Sainsbury Plaice

A barrage of wet weather with Storm Ciara, Storm Dennis and Storm Jorge all following in quick succession has meant February 2020 has officially been announced as the wettest February on record with a UK average of over 202mm of rain. Polo clubs around the UK have suffered with waterlogged fields, causing groundsmen consternation ahead of the 2020 outdoor season, with Cowdray Park Polo Club’s River Ground staying true to its name, as it became totally submerged.

However, us Brits are a hardy folk and it takes a bit more than a bit of rain to dampen our spirits! This issue of Polo Times is packed full of polo from both the UK and further afield; with The Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz once again an undoubted success with record breaking numbers of spectators attending and impressive snow polo action. Across the pond in Florida, the American season is in full swing, with the Cambiaso fatherson duo already scooping their first 2020 World Polo League title together in The All-Star Challenge. I do not think that there can be anyone who’s not looking forward to seeing the pairing of Adolfo and Poroto playing together in the 2020 UK high goal season.

In the UK right now, there has been (and continues to be) arena action galore, with Reports in this issue including action from the HPA National Club Championships, Winter Victor Ludorum and SUPA National Universities Winter Arena Championships, the latter of which now claims to be the biggest polo tournament in the world with over 200 teams competing this year!

Yet as with all things in life, there is a balance and all of this positive polo success is tempered with the sad passing of Hugo Tuthill and Sue Cudmore – both of whom were huge characters in the polo community and whose presence will be sorely missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families in these difficult times.

News

Tommy Severn will be running The London Marathon on 26 April in aid of The Starlight Children’s Foundation

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News World Polo League 2020

Sandpolo Back for 2020

Photograph courtesy of Sandpolo

The highly anticipated second season of The World Polo League is already underway in the heart of Florida, at Grand Champions Polo Club as we go to press. This year, the League returns with more teams and star players, with play having commenced in early February.

10 teams are participating this season, with world famous players such as Bartolito and Camilo ‘Jeta’ Castagnola, Pablo Mac Donough, Juan Martín Nero and the world’s most famous 10 goaler, Adolfo Cambiaso. The League also welcomes a number of other famous players, all keen to compete, as well as a host of new sponsors.

The British Beach Polo Championships tickets are available now

USPA Outdoor Rules Changes

The USPA has announced changes to their outdoor rules.

The 2020 USPA Outdoor Rules will replace the 2019 USPA Outdoor Rules and 2019 USPA International Rules, by combining the two into a single set.

Furthermore, the new rule format will enable the host tournament committees of events with a handicap higher than 8 goals to choose how to enforce the rules, i.e. enabling tournaments to be played under an ‘international rule’ umbrella (with rules similar to those of the AAP and HPA). Further to this change in logistics, there are also changes to the following subsections; Rule Two – Players, Rule Four – Equipment, Rule Five – Mounts, Rule Seven – Host Tournament Committee, Rule Eight – Umpires & Referees, Rule 14 – Duration of Periods, Rule 16 – Games, Rule 17 – Round Robins, Rule 20 – How Play Commences, Rule 21 – How Play is Interrupted, Rule 22 – How Play is Resumed, Rule 24 – Right of Way, Rule 26 – Dangerous Riding, Rule 33 – Unsportsmanlike Conduct and Rule 36 ­– Penalty Procedures & Violations. For more information, please visit the USPA website.

The British Beach Polo Championships are set to once again take place at Sandbanks, Dorset between 10 – 11 July this year, with thousands of spectators expected and expert teams set to participate. Tickets are now on sale, with the last few early bird offers still available.

As well as exciting action on the sand, the event will host a plethora of activities on the sidelines as well as luxury hospitality for the lucky few. For more information and to purchase your tickets, please visit the website.

USPA Announces Continuation of ChukkerTV Partnership The United States Polo Association (USPA), has announced the continuation of the partnership with livestream provider ChukkerTV, which will now see the two organisations work together until 2022. ChukkerTV will once again livestream all The Gauntlet of Polo matches, which are set to number between 130-150, as well as over 20 USPA tournaments throughout the year, across all levels. For more information, please visit the USPA website.

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Polo Times, March 2020

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News Home Office Visa News

The Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) has released the Will Harper and his father James will be the first names of the male father/son duo in modern times to compete together and female players in an International Test Match who will compete against Australia on 5 April at Windsor Polo Club in Sydney. The two Frasers England teams will be pulling out all the stops to gain the win against these fierce rivals, with both teams showcasing a wealth of experience as well as youthful fervour. This will also be the first time in the modern era that a father/son duo has represented England.

These matches promise to be fast-paced, edge of your seat action, with tickets available to purchase now.

The Fraser England Men’s Team (23): Will Harper (3), Ollie Cudmore (6), Jack Richardson (7) & James Harper (7) The Frasers England Women’s Team (22): Lucy Bowan (4), Claire Stokes (neé Broughman) (5), Heloise Wilson-Smith (6) & Sarah Wiseman (7). Reserve Lucy Bliss

Photography courtesy of the HPA

On Wednesday 19 February, the Home Office released the UK’s Points-Based Immigration System which will come into effect from January 2021, which can be found on the gov.uk website.

The HPA is in the process of assessing the potential impact on polo and will be engaging with the Home Office in order to establish how these proposed changes will affect the sport and how the sport can adapt to those changes. They will update members in due course.

According to the BBC website, the main points of the proposed system are as follows: • Under the plan, the definition of skilled workers would include those educated to A-Level/Scottish Highers equivalent and will see the removal of waiting staff and certain types of agricultural worker from the new skilled category. New additions to the skilled category include carpentry, plastering and childminding • Overseas citizens will need to reach 70 points to be able to work in the UK • Speaking English and having the offer of a ‘skilled’ job with an ‘approved sponsor’ will give them 50 points, whilst more points are awarded dependent on qualifications, salary on offer and proposed working sector • Workers from the EEA countries have an automatic right to live and work in the UK until 31 December 2020 • Salary threshold for skilled workers will decrease from £30,000 to £25,600, but could be lowered further for those intending to work in ‘specific shortage occupations’ It has been widely documented that concerns have been raised by those in the equine and farming sectors, with industry representatives flagging a failure to recognise seasonal workers’ necessity.

When it comes to polo, players currently fall under a different classification bracket, ‘Sports & Entertainment’, with grooms also falling under this same bracket, with each visa assessed on an individual basis. It is our understanding they will be considered under the new points-based system from January 2021 onwards.

It is hoped that there will be further clarity on this in due course, which will be reported on in Polo Times in full.

For more information on the points-based system, the BBC website, has a clear and concise breakdown.

Frasers England Australian International Teams Announced

New Rules for The Argentine Triple Crown Updated rules in relation to individual and team rankings in The Argentine Triple Crown have been released by the AAP. These rules take into account respective performances in the 2019 Argentine Open.

Changes to team rankings include the awarding of points, the ranking of qualifying teams and composition of pre-qualified players are included, as well as points won for individuals when playing as either a main player or substitute. For more information, please visit the AAP website.

Obituary Hugo Tuthill 25 June 1949 – 20 January 2020

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careers around the UK and overseas. Hugo never played polo and was certainly no jockey, but no matter if the game had been won or lost, he would head over to the pony lines and offer words of encouragement and reflection to the players. Polo was not Hugo’s personal passion; his passion was watching his children play polo and enjoying the company of his friends on the sidelines.

Photograph courtesy of the Tuthill family

Hugo Tuthill, of Hook Norton, Oxfordshire, died peacefully on 20 January 2020, aged 70, from Leukaemia. Dearly loved husband, father, grandfather and brother.

Hugo was a familiar figure on the sidelines at polo. He got involved by supporting his sons, Olly and Josh, play Pony Club polo through the 1980’s. Along with his wife Charmaine, he continued this support over the next 40 years, following his sons’ polo

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News Obituary Sue Cudmore 19 October 1955 – 1 February 2020

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Polo Times, March 2020

Photography courtesy of the Cudmore family

Susan Lynne Cudmore was born in London on 19 October 1955, the fourth born child to Arthur and Ellen Russell. She had a very happy childhood and despite living in London, developed a huge passion for animals and particularly horses. After school, Sue attended College and, with weekend and after-hours jobs, she scraped enough money together to buy a much-loved horse.

Sue became a Personal Assistant to the Managing Director of a building company in London, but after a couple of years became frustrated with the lack of time to ride her horse in the winter.

She then took a six month job grooming for Simon and Claire Tomlinson. Six months turned into six years and she formed a very strong bond with Claire and Simon. She thoroughly enjoyed her time at Down Farm and threw herself into polo and hunting.

In 1982, Sue met Rob who was a playing groom for the Tomlinsons and in November 1985 they were married and left to work on the family farm in Australia, where they had two boys, Matthew (1987) and Ollie (1989). Sue devoted her time to looking after the boys, working on the farm and helping with the horses. She developed a very strong friendship base in and around Quirindi.

In 1988, Rob was asked to go back to England to work and play for Nick Williams and Christopher Hanbury. This was the beginning of 25 years building and running Longdole Polo Club. Sue threw herself into this venture and was very involved in all aspects of the Club. She became a second mother to the hundreds of young gap students who came from Australia to work at Longdole over a 25 year period.

She put together a Jorrocks polo team consisting of Matt, Ollie, Charlie and George Hanbury. Sue drove the boys to all the Pony Club polo matches and became the Manager of The Cotswold Pony Club Polo, which she did for many years. She was immensely proud when Ollie and Charlie won The Gold Cup in 2018. She also hunted with The Cotswold which she enjoyed immensely.

Although involved in polo for many years, Sue did not start to

play until Rob and Christopher bought El Remanso in Argentina.

She played chukkas regularly, played in some ladies’ polo in Argentina and has the distinction of a 100 percent win ratio in Cirencester where she played and won five games on the way to winning The Associates Trophy with her son Ollie alongside Tilda and Tabba Woodd. Sue was a good tennis player and latterly a keen golfer.

In 2008, Sue contracted a Vasculitis disease, Wegener’s granulomatosis, which was with her for the rest of her life.

Despite the awful results of this disease, Sue never complained and was an inspiration to her family and friends how she battled each new episode.

Sue died in her favourite place in the world, Mooloolaba in Queensland after a very short battle with cancer. She leaves behind her devastated family who can all be so proud of her achievements and the person she was.

Friends and family filled Cheltenham College Chapel for the memorial service on 27 February 2020 to celebrate Sue’s life, with a retiring collection in aid of the Lauren Currie Twilight Foundation – a charity committed to the research for a cure of Wegener’s granulomatosis, which Sue was a supporter of. Donations may be made at www.thelaurencurrietwilightfoundation.org

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News Gauntlet of Polo USPA Gold Cup Teams Drawn

Photograph by Alex Pacheco/IPC

On Thursday 20 February, the Gauntlet of Polo teams gathered for the official draw of The USPA Gold Cup at the International Polo Club, Palm Beach, Florida. The official draw determined the playing order for the second tournament in the exciting 2020 Gauntlet of Polo. The Gauntlet itself gives the teams the opportunity to win a potential $1,000,000 prize money purse, on winning all three tournaments.

The USPA Gold Cup will be split into four brackets, with brackets one and two playing within their division and brackets three and four playing cross-bracket.

The 2019 USPA Gold Cup winners, Pilot Following the qualification rounds, the Semi Finals will take place, with the Final, and the chance to win $125,000, following at 3pm (local time) on Sunday 22 March on the U.S. Polo Assn. field at International Polo Club.

The brackets are set out as follows: Bracket One: Santa Clara, Postage Stamp Farm, Daily Racing Form & La Indiana Bracket Two: Old Hickory Bourbon, Park Place, Tonkawa & Pilot Bracket Three: Las Monjitas, Equuleus & Cessna Bracket Four: Coca-Cola, Patagones & Dutta Corp Tickets to Gauntlet of Polo events and the USPA Gold Cup matches are available on the USPA website now, will all the games also being livestreamed on Global Polo TV.

Polo Pony Auction and Party Germany’s number one player and polo pony breeder, Patrick Maleitzke, will be hosting a tournament and auction of 25 polo ponies on 18 July at the Schockemöhle Polo Stud in the heart of Germany. Players and purchasers are welcome to attend, with more information available on the website pologestuet-schokemoehle.de

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Polo Times, March 2020

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FIP News

FIP Update President of the Federation of International Polo, Horacio Areco, gives us an update on the latest FIP news from around the world

I FIP Women’s Nations Cup International faces to grace Palermo fields

USPA Hope Arellano (6) Érica Gondomar-Sachs (5) Paige McCabe (5) Dawn Jones (6) Mia Bray (5) The USPA, HPA and Argentine Polo Association (AAP) have also confirmed there will be a friendly polo match featuring kids from these three countries, playing in mixed teams. Six Argentine boys and girls will host and mount the visiting children. These games will be played also on the Palermo grounds, before The FIP Women’s Nations Cup games.

We are very happy with this International Polo programme and look forward to repeating this in different locations every year in the future.

Photography by J Ridley Art & Photography

The Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA) and the United States Polo Association (USPA) have confirmed their participation and teams for The I FIP Women’s Nations Cup. Games will be played at the legendary Palermo fields from 10 – 12 April.

The game schedule will be the following: 10 April – USA vs England 11 April – Argentina vs Loser Game 1 12 April – Argentina vs Winner Game 1 The big news is that Hazel Jackson-Gaona, one of the current three female players rated at 10 goals, will be participating at the tournament. Argentina will be presenting their players shortly and their team may also have another 10 goaler, in the form of Lía Salvo, participating. Handicap of the Tournament is between 16 and 22 goals, and games will be played on handicap.

The full squad list of players is the following: HPA Hazel Jackson-Gaona (10) Rosanna Turk (5) Holly Butler (4) Beanie Bradley (3)

It is hoped Argentine Lía Salvo will compete in Palermo

Brit 10 goaler Hazel Jackson-Gaona will represent the HPA

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Comment Letter of the month The writer of letter of the month wins a bottle of British Polo Gin @britishpologin 18 years and over only

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Polo Times, March 2020

picture

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Sleigh MarchMarchX Rides in St. Moritz AmongstMarchMarchMarchX the hustle and bustle of The Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2020, and set in the gloriously romantic setting of the frozen lake of St. Moritz nestled in the Engadin Valley, w MarchMarchMarch spectators this year were treated to Schlitteda. Schlitteda originates from a time when horse pulled sleds were the main means of transport in the Upper Engadin during winter.

Historically, bachelors used this occasion to invite their beloved for a romantic carriage ride and the chance to spend the day together prior to getting married. The event is usually held on 11 January in Silvaplana, but those soaking up the glamour were treated to their own Schlitteda display, with the women wearing traditional fancy dress and the men, or wagoners, sitting behind in a tailcoat and top hat. w Photograph by Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz/Reinhardt & Sommer

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Polo Times, March 2020

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Feature

Photography courtesy of La Martina

The La Martina Chillys bottle

La Martina Technical Equipment

for students and beginners. The brand-new helmet is also bang up to date and aligned with current safety standards.

Putting helmet’s aside, La Martina has also introduced a stunning new Englishproduced saddle, handcrafted by a UK based saddler registered to the Society of Master Saddlers (available off the shelf in black, brown, half and full suede options) to its range. The saddle has been product tested by a range of polo professionals during the 2019-2020 arena season and is set to be another key seller this coming season. A long, detailed process of design involved the Master Saddler attending polo matches and watching how the saddle moved and fit a range of different ponies. He then went away and made the relevant changes, and then returned with an updated version.

This time-consuming, but essential process went back and forth until the saddle was deemed to be the very best it could be. It is also already making a mark outside the UK, having recently landed in Sotogrande with Jamie Le Hardy who will be using it during his 2020 season.

This is the first time La Martina has produced saddlery within the UK, and it changes the face of its saddlery business in terms of reduced production times, better access to bespoke saddle needs and an exceptional high quality, but super lightweight, product. The saddle even comes complete with a small leather pouch containing saddle soap to encourage good care and attention of this premium product.

It is all part of La Martina’s directional strategic move to re-evaluate the technical business and give better and quicker access to the products players want, while also

P

Investing where it matters

olo apparel manufacturer heavyweight La Martina has announced a significant investment in technical equipment in 2020 and looking to the future, which will form part of its long-term strategic plan to revolutionise the face of polo.

Last year their co-branded Armis helmet project was a best-selling piece in the La Martina technical pro-shop located at Guards Polo Club and this success has signalled the next step in La Martina’s progression.

Also a revolutionary item in its own right, the Armis helmet took the MIPs system (already a familiar technology within the skiing fraternity) and introduced it to polo, with a slick, modern fit and shape and an interchangeable headband to finally do away with the polo player’s curse of the ‘sweaty head’!

In 2020, La Martina has also introduced its entry level Windsor Helmet, with a more traditional cloth finish and an attractive price point 20

Polo Times, March 2020

The La Martina English-made Saddle

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La Martina Technical Equipment

The La Martina Armis Helmet

The 2020 cloth-covered Windsor Helmet

“The La Martina saddle is a beautifully hand-crafted saddle; the gullet design and flocked panels allow the horse to move freely and the seat puts you in a secure balanced position for hitting. It’s super lightweight too and oozes quality.”

Jamie Le Hardy – 4 goals (outdoor)

introducing new technologies that have not been seen before in polo.

One of the most innovative of these new products is the La Martina overgirth, available in the brand’s eye-catching green and manufactured from the same material as car seat belts. It was designed on the simple pretext of, if the material is strong enough to save your life in a car, it’s certainly strong enough to hold your saddle in place!

The new stirrup leathers set completes the saddlery portfolio. Having researched heavily amongst the polo community for their comments and feedback on products, it became clear to La Martina that the main issue with this item was the degree of stretch.

A super strong and durable webbing backing applied to the leather solves this problem and creates another premium functional product.

So, with all the technical equipment sorted, the next step was those ‘off the field’

The La Martina Stirrup Leathers

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Feature

essentials. La Martina established a co-brand deal with the iconic Chillys bottles: green in colour and ‘green’ in nature. The La Martina Chillys bottle helps in the ongoing battle against single use plastics and is part of a new environmental approach that customers will see more of in the coming years. With green plans in mind, ‘Route 40 – The Challenge’ is an innovative project by La Martina coming in March 2020. As part of this ecological reforestation that will span the North and South of Argentina crossing 20 National Parks, La Martina has already donated over 1,000 trees and the project is set to get larger.

Also on the shelf, as the Guards Polo Club Store opens for the new season, will be the new co-branding project with Mac-ina-Sac, and the product with ‘cute appeal’ – the iBrolly. From the outside a standard umbrella, but open it up and there’s a little bay, chestnut, or grey pony on the underside.

Possibly one of the only ways to make rainy days fun and a perfect gift item, take your pick of pony colour!

With an abundance of new equipment hitting the La Martina shelves this year, it appears that the brand has all your polo bases covered. And what’s more, still to come in 2020 are the new La Martina elbow guards, the La Martina protective ‘Occuli’ eyewear and an English produced polo boot – the list is seemingly never ending! If you’re looking for style and innovation there’s a technical product for everyone and more to follow from La Martina as the season progresses… watch this space!

“A great saddle for all levels, this will suit both pros and patrons. A lot of time and thought has been put into the design and production – I myself was involved in the product testing process in the arena and was able to provide my comments and feedback. It’s so important in this sport to have a lightweight quality saddle that can comfortably fit a range of different ponies in your string.”

Pete Webb – 4 goals (outdoor), 7 goals (arena)

www.lamartina.com

The La Martina Overgirth

Polo Times, March 2020

21

Polo Times’ Guide to Vaccinations

Your exclusive guide

I

n recent months, equine sports across the board have been challenged with the outbreak of Equine Influenza, causing the temporary closure of a number of yards whilst animals are appropriately treated. The disease is veracious and can cause severe problems for working yards.

In our March 2019 issue, our friendly vet David Blakey, from Three Counties Equine Hospital in Gloucestershire looked into infectious respiratory diseases following the February 2019 Equine Influenza crisis in British Thoroughbred racing.

The diseases

There are four main transmissible diseases of adult horses – equine influenza virus, www.polotimes.co.uk

equine herpes virus, Streptococcus equi and Streptococcus zooepidemicus. For the purposes of simplicity, as they all have similar ways of spreading, clinical signs and preventative measures, they can be termed Infectious Respiratory Diseases (IRD).

To assist in quashing the IRD diseases early on, the HPA has, over the past two seasons, been aligning their regulations with the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) guidelines, ensuring horses must have a compliant Equine Influenza vaccination within six months of the season in which the horse plays or competes.

In horse racing however, the British Horseracing Association (BHA) has extended

Photography courtesy of Three Counties Equine Hospital

Equine Vaccinations

A sign of equine influenza

Feature

A vet swabbing for equine influenza

Pros • Helps battle infectious diseases • Aligns polo with the FEI • Modernises welfare strategy • When executed as advised in March/ April window, ensures summer ponies are vaccinated fully for 12 months before annual season commences Cons • If required to vaccinate horses twice annually, the cost mounts up • FEI, HPA and BHA guidelines do not align • Removing ponies from pre-season and season work for two to seven days is challenging • Current regulations prove difficult to align with polo’s seasonal calendar this compliancy period to nine months (eight months plus a one month grace period), thus incorporating the entire racing season (either flat or jumps). Why, we hear you ask, has polo not done this?

With the 2020 season upon us, some owners of polo strings are bringing their horses in, with work starting imminently, whilst others already have horses in. With high numbers of ponies housed in close proximity, steps to ensure the safety of these all-important animals is paramount. To this end, the HPA has refreshed its vaccination requirements for all those taking ponies to polo for either playing or umpiring.

Polo Times, March 2020

23

Feature

Your Guide to Vaccinations

Vaccinations against Equine Influenza for 2020 1. All ponies taken to polo for playing or umpiring must: a. Be compliant with the rules and b. At all times must have received their last booster vaccination (or second vaccination of a primary course) within the last 6 months +21 days, but c. No pony may play or umpire within 7 days after receiving a second vaccination of a primary course, and d. No pony may play or umpire within 2 days after receiving a booster vaccination (providing the pony has a normal rectal temperature* prior to leaving for polo, which can be confirmed at polo prior to playing) Inspections will be carried out by the HPA and clubs.

2. To be compliant: a. Vaccinations must be recorded in each pony’s passport, dated, signed and stamped by the administering veterinary surgeon who must be licensed to practice in the country in which the horse was vaccinated. If vaccinated outside the UK prior to the horse obtaining a UK-recognised equine passport, a fellow or member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (MRCVS) must be satisfied that an appropriate licensed vaccine has been administered to the specific pony in question and shall record the details in any new UKrecognised equine passport once obtained with the date, signature and stamp. b. Previous vaccinations must have been administered as per the HPA rules at the time they were administered: · Ponies first vaccinated prior to 1 Jan 2014 must have received booster vaccinations annually (but not necessarily within 365 days) from the year they received their first vaccination

· Ponies first vaccinated between 1 Jan 2014 and 1 Jan

·

·

·

2016 must have received two primary vaccinations given no less than 21 days and no more than 92 days apart and booster vaccinations annually thereafter (but not necessarily within 365 days) Ponies first vaccinated between 1 Jan 2016 and 1 Jan 2018 must have two primary vaccinations given no less than 21 days and no more than 92 days apart and a third booster vaccination given no less than 90 days and no more than to 215 days after the second primary vaccination and booster vaccination annually thereafter (but not necessarily within 365 days) Ponies first vaccinated after 1 Jan 2018 must have received two primary vaccinations given no less than 21 days and no more than 92 days apart and a third booster vaccination given no less than 90 days and no more than 215 days after the second primary vaccination and a booster vaccination annually thereafter (either within 365 days or anytime within a calendar window of March and April).

Ponies first vaccinated after 1 Jan 2020 must have received two primary vaccinations given no less than 21 days and no more than 92 days apart and a third booster vaccination given no less than 150 days and no more than 215 days after the second primary vaccination and a booster vaccination annually thereafter which must be no more than 365 days (or 366 on leap years) since the previous booster. N.B. to be eligible to play or umpire, ponies must have received their last booster vaccination (or second vaccination of a primary course) within the last 6 months +21 days.

*The rectal temperature of a healthy polo pony that is not (or has not recently been) exercising should not exceed 38.1° C (or 100.5° F)

Photograph by Polo Times

Ponies must be appropriately vaccinated before playing or umpiring

So, pros and cons aside – how do you ensure your ponies are fit, vaccinated and ready to go? Fear not, we have your guide right here!

Your Vaccination Guide 1. All polo ponies, both playing and umpiring, must be vaccinated prior to their season commencing 2. To be eligible to play, ponies must have received their last booster vaccination 24

Polo Times, March 2020

within the last six months + 21 days 3. Therefore, you are advised to vaccinate your ponies within the March-April window to ensure their vaccinations last the whole season (valid only in Britain) 4. For those with ponies in year-round work, ponies will require two vaccinations, to ensure the six month + 21 day playing period is continually covered

5. If vaccinating on a primary course (including the secondary vaccination of primary course), the pony is not allowed to play or umpire for seven days 6. If vaccinating with a booster, the pony is not allowed to play or umpire for two days 7. Key things to remember: a. Ponies’ vaccinations must have six monthly validity + 21 days to be eligible to play, which encompasses the season b. Vaccinations must be administered by a licensed veterinarian c. Vaccinations must be recorded in the horse’s passport and signed and stamped by the vet The HPA is hosting two Welfare meetings in the coming months as follows: 10 March – Welfare Committee Meeting, RCBPC (TBC): Open to Committee only 7 April – Welfare AGM, TBC: Open to Club representatives

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Reports

Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz, Engadin Valley

T

o those based in the Northern Hemisphere, January means lots of things – New Year’s resolutions, diets, credit card bills and the somewhat depressing dark days of winter.

But to those in the know it means it is snow polo time. What better way to banish the January blues than to watch the oldest, most extravagant snow polo event in the world in a resort which bathes in 322 days of sunshine a year? This year celebrating its 36th anniversary, the annual Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz draws thousands of spectators, the international press and world class polo players from all around the globe to the uber glamorous resort of St. Moritz in the heart of the Engadin Valley.

Over three days of polo celebration, fantastic polo is played on the immaculately prepared surface directly on top of the ice of the frozen lake of the iconically chic resort.

A huge team of 250 staff make sure that everything from the lavish VIP marquees and grandstands (again somewhat surreally all on the lake), to the heated pony stables

are run with a typically Swiss attention to detail and accuracy. But don’t let efficiency be mistaken for mediocrity or anything even verging on bland. This is an incredibly flamboyant event, fun from start to finish and truly reflecting the infectiously vivacious personality of the man that makes it all happen – ‘The Godfather of Snow Polo’ Reto Gaudenzi, the Vice President and CEO of the event. Under his excellent stewardship, year on year the event builds its momentum, larger hospitality areas, a better playing surface, larger crowds and this year an estimated viewing audience of over 500,000.

Four teams take part in a well established format over three days at the end of January and over the years has attracted some of the world’s best players. With past pro winners including Alejandro Novillo Astrada, the late Eduardo ‘Taio’ Novillo Astrada, Pablo Mac Donough, José Donoso, John Paul Clarkin, Horacio and Tomás Fernandes Llorente, Adrian Laplacette and ‘Piki’ Diaz Alberdi – to name but a few from international shores. Add to that an impressive English

Red Reign

winners’ pro player roll call including Nacho Gonzalez, Chris Hyde, Max Charlton, Jonny Good, James Lucas, Paul Withers and Oliver Ellis and many, many more illustrious names and you can begin to appreciate the quality of the play in this extraordinary tournament.

Exhibition polo it is not.

The polo menu for this year’s event was to be served up by four world class teams. Back in the saddle for a third year in a row, Azerbaijan Land of Fire with their Captain Elcin Jamalli joined again by Agustin Kronhaus and two new faces on the line-up in the form of Santiago Marambio and Pato Bolanterio. Team Maserati saw St. Moritz first timer Turkish patron Kutlay Yaprak alongside the local talents of Fabio Meier, joined by the Argentine powerhouses of Adrian LaplacetteJr. and the indomitable Valentin Novillo Astrada. The British have a long history of playing and often winning in St. Mortiz, so all eyes and English hopes were pinned on the English pairing including Max Charlton – three-time winner of the tournament who currently is the highest rated arena player in the UK at 10 goals.

Richenda Hine

reports from St. Moritz

Fast, furious & fantastic snow polo action sees the crimson shirted team St. Moritz crowned champions

26

Polo Times, March 2020

www.polotimes.co.uk

Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz, Engadin Valley Charlton was joined on the ice by arena maestro Nacho Gonzalez, who with four wins to his name in this tournament was certainly one to watch; the dynamic Brit duo were joined by the Frenchman Robert Strom and Russian patron Valery Mishchenko.

Keen to replicate last year’s win also saw the return of Melissa Ganzi and her Badrutt’s Palace line-up. Melissa Ganzi, has an impressive pioneering pedigree in St. Moritz. In 2015, she was the first lady to ever compete on the frozen lake alongside the male players. Last year she was crowned the undisputed ‘First Lady of Snow Polo’, as her Badrutt’s Palace team secured victory making her the first female ever to achieve a place on the winning team. This year she was back and secured yet another first as she and her husband Marc played on the same team on Final’s day making them the first ever husband/wife duo to play alongside each other in St. Moritz. Together, Marc and Melissa own the Grand Champions Polo Club in Florida which hosts the World Polo League, and Aspen Valley Polo Club.

So, with their all year-round play and snow polo experience, all eyes were on her blackshirted Badrutt’s Palace team as they took to the ice on the first day of competition.

Playing again for team Badrutts was 8 goal

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powerhouse Alejandro Novillo Astrada who has been a regular goal maestro on Melissa’s snow polo team since 2018. His skills were teamed with USA number one Nic Roldan, who was a first-timer to the fast play and frenetic pace of polo in St. Moritz. His flair and flamboyance was teamed alongside the young and talented Juan Bautista Peluso, keen to make his mark on the tournament on his second outing to the alpine resort.

The President’s Trophy; the inaugural trophy of the tournament signalled the beginning of the polo extravaganza. Despite a valiant effort from Melissa Ganzi’s black shirted team, the final score was a decisive and somewhat surprise 8-4 victory to Azerbaijan Land of Fire, who firmly marked their arrival on The Snow Polo World Cup St Moritz. The fun in the sun continued with the second match of the day between team St. Moritz and the horsepower of Maserati for The Hatecke Challenge, with 2019 finalist Valery Mishchenko working hard to close down Kutlay Yaprak, playing in his first ever match in St. Moritz. Maserati were trying hard to make an impact, but it was not enough to stop the combined firepower

Reports

of Charlton and Gonzalez, with the final score resting at 6-2½. Impressively, Charlton scored five out of his team’s six goals.

Day two dawned with an impossibly beautiful day, crystal clear skies, balmy sun and sparkling snow made for a truly magical and somewhat otherworldly day of polo on the iconic frozen lake. But whilst the scenery was tranquil and blissful, the tempo on the field was certainly the anthesis of this as judging on the previous day’s performance, the two strongest teams of the tournament lined-up for the throw-in for The Maserati Cup under the midday sun. Starting with a half goal advantage, Azerbaijan initially looked strong, however St. Moritz were not intimidated and set about dampening the flame of attack from Azerbaijan Land of Fire. It was a truly spectacular game, with fantastically close marking, clean and fluid play with little whistle from the two mounted umpires. The event commentator, ‘The Voice of Polo’ Jan-Erik Franck quite rightly called it, “High class polo” and how right he was. The red shirts of the St. Moritz

Polo Times, March 2020

27

Reports

Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2020

Photography courtesy of Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz

Agustin Kronhaus in action

late, with a final score of 4½-3 in favour of Maserati. However, the final score difference was not enough to secure Maserati a place in the Final.

The third and last day of hotly contested competition on the Sunday saw two Finals played in front of the thousands of snow polo spectators. The first match of the day was The La Martina Trophy played between Badrutt’s Palace and Maserati for third and fourth place. Those that had been expecting the players to merely go through the motions were proved wrong from the first throw-in, as the teams fought for possession in wonderful, almost whistle-less passages of play. There was no score in the third chukka, but the fourth chukka was edge of the seat stuff, as Swiss National Team player Fabio Meier delighted the crowd with an amazing goal for Maserati to match that of any higher handicapped player. However, Meier’s goal seemed to ignite the afterburners of the Badrutt’s Palace team with Novillo Astrada scoring from a great set-up by Melissa Ganzi, followed just 30 seconds later by him once again finding the posts. In a nail-biting cliff-hanger and with

team worked well, dominating the play and stamping their authority to claim the first slot in the Final with a score of 6-5½.

Due to the large goal differences in the matches on day one and the complex calculations of points awarded and goals conceded, either Badrutt’s Palace or Maserati had to win The Deutsche Bank Wealth Management Challenge by a margin of at least four goals to secure a place in the Final.

So, it was with determination to make the following day’s big event that both teams came out with their polo guns blazing in a bid to secure their place on the winner’s podium.

A last-minute line-up change for Badrutt’s Palace saw a double dose of Ganzi magic as Marc replaced Juan Bautista. Both Team Captains played well, with Kutlay Yaprak and Melissa Ganzi each slotting home penalties for their sides in the second half. Despite the 8 goal magic of American International Nic Roldan and the best goal of the tournament so far, played by Alejandro Novillo Astrada on the nearside down the majority of the length of the field, it was not Badrutt’s Palace’s day and it was a case of too little too

28

just over a minute on the clock, it looked as though last years’ champions were going to pull a proverbial rabbit out of the hat as a penalty was awarded to them. But it was not to be as the ball went wide, final time was called and Maserati ran out the winners with a close victory of 7½ goals to 5.

So, it was on to the climax of the weekend – The Final between Azerbaijan Land of Fire and St. Moritz. After the clash between these two teams only the day before which resulted in a very close score, it was certainly hard to predict who would be victorious. Talk in the players’ ranks was of an expected ‘Clash of the Titans’ with both teams giving their all. The Azeri team started with a half goal advantage due to handicap, but despite expectations of a cohesive and multi-faceted attacking style, the boys in white did not ignite their polo fires and the result was that Valery Mishchenko’s ‘Red Devils’ in the iconic scarlet shirts of St. Moritz, found the posts twice before the half-time bell, with nothing in reply from the Azeris. In the second half, the Azerbaijan Land of Fire team rekindled their polo flame and began to give the Brit duo of Charlton and Gonzalez something to think about, with a changed game plan. However, together, team St. Moritz played strong, close polo and despite their best endeavours, the Azeri team could not sufficiently shut down Charlton and his red shirted polo assassins in their quest for victory. With the wind beginning to pick up, it meant that accuracy on goal was hard, and two pivotal goal chances were missed by Azerbaijan, but it was a case of third time lucky as a goal from the Azerbaijan Captain, the talented Elcin Jamalli signalled the start of their offensive attack bringing the scores to a close 3-1½.

The fourth chukka was thrilling, but it was Robert Strom who needs a special mention – the Frenchman’s work rate was off the chart, with an easy, fluid style that attracted little response from the two mounted umpires. His endeavours were

1ST PLACE

2ND PLACE

ST. MORITZ (17)

AZERBAIJAN LAND OF FIRE (15)

Valery Mishchenko

(0)

Elcin Jamalli

(2)

Robert Strom

(5)

Pato Bolanterio

(4)

Max Charlton

(6)

Agustin Kronhaus

(3)

Nacho Gonzalez

(6)

Santiago Marambio

(6)

Polo Times, March 2020

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Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2020

Reports

Tournament Action at a Glance Friday 24 January The President’s Trophy Azerbaijan Land of Fire defeated Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, 8-4 The Hatecke Challenge St. Moritz defeated Maserati, 6-2½

Saturday 25 January The Maserati Cup St. Moritz defeated Azerbaijan Land of Fire, 6-5½ The Deutsche Bank Wealth Management Challenge Maserati defeated Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, 4½-3 Sunday 26 January La Martina Cup (Subsidiary Final) Maserati defeated Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, 7½-5 The Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz St. Moritz defeated Azerbaijan Land of Fire, 4-1½

MVP Max Charlton

3RD PLACE

4TH PLACE

MASERATI (14)

BADRUTT’S PALACE HOTEL (18)

Kutlay Yaprak

(1)

Melissa Ganzi

(0)

Fabio Meier

(1)

Juan Bautista Peluso / Marc Ganzi

(2) (2)

Adrian Laplacette Jr

(6)

Nic Roldan

(8)

Valentin Novillo Astrada (6)

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Alejandro Novillo Astrada (8)

Polo Times, March 2020

29

Reports

Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2020

FINA

2 6 4 2 JAN

BPP

L

JAN

Where: St. Moritz, Switzerland

Casanova Emlor

Nacho Gonzalez riding the Polo Times Best Playing Pony, Casanova Emlor

8

MVP

The highest handicapped player on the ice: Alejandro Novillo Astrada & Nic Roldan

Umpires: (Two on the ice and one third man) Oliver Ellis, Marcelo Garrahan & Charles Seavill

Official Timekeeper: Christian Dunkelberg Commentator: ‘The Voice of Polo’ Jan-Erik Franck

500,000+

Max Charlton

BPP

The number of people watching the event online

BEST PLAYING PATRON: Fabio Meier For more information about Casanova Emlor, please turn to our Pony Power pages rewarded with a great goal that sealed the deal for his team. As the final bell sounded, the final score was 4-1½ to team St. Moritz.

Valery Mishchenko was incandescent with joy at his team’s win, enthusing rather romantically, “First of all thank you to the crowds for cheering us up today. The real thanks is to my wife. She cannot be here today, but if it wasn’t for her I would never have been riding a horse, so please give a

30

Polo Times, March 2020

round of applause to my wife – I love her!”

So, the 36th edition of this fantastic event drew to a close, the birthplace of snow polo bid farewell, the last glass of champagne was sipped, the glamorous spectators were whisked away in Maseratis to the plethora of super chic hotels in St. Moritz and the ponies prepared for their long journeys home.

What lingered on was the memory of a truly

Handicaps – Outdoor handicaps are used rather than arena handicaps. For example, Max Charlton plays of 6 goals on snow but is 10 goals in the arena remarkable event that simply adds up to far more than the sum of its extraordinary parts.

If you have not seen this spectacle, then make sure you put that to rights by making a note of next year’s event – 29, 30 and 31 January 2021. As the event’s Official Media Partner, we will see you there!

www.polotimes.co.uk

Reports

The HPA Winter Victor Ludorum, The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club

Victorious Farrington Extra-time win in The HPA Winter Victor Ludorum

Jen Liggins

reports from Berkshire

W

32

Polo Times, March 2020

Photography by Polo Times

ith the sun shining, but a harsh wind blowing through the arena at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club, The HPA Winter Victor Ludorum Final saw two skilled teams come together to battle for the coveted national title on Sunday 2 February. Yaroslav Chichvarkin’s Hedonism Wines (playing instead of his injured father Evgeny, who has had great success with his team’s line-up so far this season), a regular in these fixtures, came up against Louisa Watt’s Farrington in the 8 goal Final, in front of an ensemble of arena polo fans.

The first chukka began slow and steady, with both teams eyeing each other up and identifying the potential weak links in each team’s play. But, with a 25 yard penalty it was Hedonism Wines who found the posts first, with Brit Royston Prisk, solid in defence, finding fire at the end of this stick, securing eight goals before the second bell to end the chukka.

With another goal for Hedonism Wines from number two Marcus Cork at the beginning of the second chukka, Farrington looked like they were in for a hard slog to the finish, but three penalty ones put them back in contention, 9-3. Irishman, Evan Powers, a very strong player off his 2 goal handicap, was the tonic the Farrington side needed, as he secured three goals for his side, with another five following off teammate Ed Banner-Eve’s stick. The second chukka saw tensions heighten, with plays getting ever closer and Prisk finding himself the wrong side of the rules on two occasions, receiving two yellow cards for the privilege.

So, going into half-time, Hedonism Wines’ early, extensive lead, was no longer, with Farrington trailing by just one goal, 12-11.

The strong wind was making all the difference to these two sides, with the advantage clear when the teams changed ends, but it was Prisk who once again took control going into the second half. A thirteenth goal for his side extended their lead, but Banner-Eve wasn’t far behind, securing a 15 yard penalty. The teams drew for the first time, 13-13, and each time Hedonism Wines put themselves ahead Farrington were hot on their heels.

In a fast, frenetic third chukka, Prisk and

The victorious Farrington team

Cork scored a goal apiece for Hedonism Wines, putting the side 20-18 ahead, but it wasn’t until the final 13 seconds of the match, with the teams at 20-20, that it looked as though Farrington might get the upper hand. With a centre hit, Banner-Eve, fired the ball up the arena, but the clock had other ideas, thus the teams found themselves in an extra chukka. As the fifth chukka ensued, Farrington was the first team to foul, but Prisk was unable to commit, with the wind working tirelessly against him, and

with the polo fates falling in Farrington’s favour, a penalty one was what signed on the dotted line for a Farrington win, 21-20.

The teams were presented with their prizes in front of their friends and family, with The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player honours going quite rightly to Hedonism Wines’ Royston Prisk. The Polo Times Best Playing Pony rug was awarded to Daisy, a bay mare owned by Adolfo Casabal and played by Ed Banner-Eve.

The Winter Victor Ludorum, Final Teams Farrington (8) Louisa Watt (0) Evan Powers (2) Ed Banner-Eve (6)

Hedonism Wines (8) Yaroslav Chichvarkin (2) Marcus Cork (3) Royston Prisk (4)

Joint Highest Scorers: Ed Banner-Eve & Royston Prisk (11) Howard Smith & Marcus Hancock with Simon McDonald as third man

BPP Daisy, owned by Adolfo Casabal and played by Ed Banner-Eve

MVP Royston Prisk

For more information about Daisy, please turn to our Pony Power pages www.polotimes.co.uk

Tel: +44 (0) 1842 862 068

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Comes with a full set a buckets.

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DAF CF85 220 Horsebox

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The HPA National Club Championships, The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club

Photography by RCBPC

Reports

The 6 Goal HPA National Club Championship Final teams

New Year, New Winners HPA National Club Championships continue

O

n Sunday 19 January, arena polo fans gathered at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club for two exciting Finals from this year’s HPA National Club Championships; the 6 and 15 goal.

The 6 Goal Final was first up and saw Jesper Brunander’s Copi come up against Louisa Watt and her Brown Rudnick side.

The teams were evenly match at 6 goals apiece, but with the powerful 6 goaler Ryan Pemble aiding his teammates on the Copi

34

Polo Times, March 2020

side, there was reasonable concern forming in the Brown Rudnick ranks.

Brown Rudnick took the lead early on however, scoring two goals in the first chukka to just one in response from Copi and the match continued in this manner.

With another five goals before half-time, Brown Rudnick held the lead 8-4 and it looked like they would walk the win, but much to their dismay, despite maintaining the lead in the third chukka, Copi were coming up fast. As the fourth chukka

commenced, Brown Rudnick narrowly held the lead 8-7, but Copi meant business. The teams flew to and fro, up and down the arena, with goals left, right and centre, but it was the fifth goal in the period that sealed the deal for Copi, securing a last minute 1211 win against Brown Rudnick. Evan Power was named the Most Valuable Player, whilst Soli, owned by Adolfo Casabal and played

by Ryan Pemble was awarded the Polo Times Best Playing Pony honours.

www.polotimes.co.uk

The HPA National Club Championships, The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club The HPA New Year Club Nationals 6 Goal Final Teams: Brown Rudnick (6) Copi (6) Louisa Watt (0) Jesper Brunander (-1) Evan Power (2) Hugo Singh (1) James Mann (4) Ryan Pemble (6)

BPP

Soli, owned by Adolfo Casabal and played by Ryan Pemble

Reports

Where: The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club

Umpires: Marcus Hancock & Tim Bown

MVP Evan Powers

Next up was the hotly anticipated 15 goal Final, with Raph Singh’s Regal Warriors, once again taking to the arena against Evgeny Chichvarkin’s Hedonism Wines. These two teams are well known powerhouses at The Berkshire, with an almighty array of arena players making up the team sheets. Singh’s side was once again fielding 10 goaler Max Charlton, whilst Ryan Pemble, fresh from his 6 goal victory, was ready and raring for another win on the famous Berkshire sand.

The first chukka was as expected – fast and furious. Pemble was the first out the gate, securing four out of the five goals in the first chukka for Hedonism Wines, with his Captain Chichvarkin scoring the fifth goal, all to only one in response from Charlton.

But, as we all know about Charlton’s play, it takes him a chukka to warm up, and by the second, he was ready to make up some ground. Alongside three goals from Cork, Charlton secured five before the half-time bell, bringing the Regal Warriors back into contention before the bell for the break, but Hedonism Wines still had the edge, with the scores resting at 14-9. Regal Warriors were back with a vengeance after the half-time break, narrowing the gap to 19-18 in the third chukka, but Hedonism Wines made the most of their early lead, just edging forward slowly but surely and holding onto the lead.

Tensions were high with passions flaring and a huge amount of yellow cards awarded throughout the play; one for Marcus Cork and Ryan Pemble, two to Max Charlton www.polotimes.co.uk

The 15 Goal winners, Hedonism Wines

Polo Times, March 2020

35

Reports

The HPA National Club Championships, The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club

and an outstanding five to Jack Hyde, proving the Hyde passion is alive and well!

But, going into the fourth chukka, there was one aim and one aim only, the win.

Despite powerful shots from Charlton and excellent defensive play from his teammates, Hedonism Wines had the edge and with a final goal from Pemble, the deal was done.

Hedonism Wines were victorious 25-21.

Pemble, riding high on the award train, was presented with The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player and the Polo Times Best Playing Pony rug, for his mount Lacey.

3

JAN

The HPA National Club Championship 15 Goal Final Teams Hedonism Wines (13) Regal Warriors (15) Evgeny Chichvarkin (1) Raph Singh (2) Jack Hyde (6) Marcus Cork (3) Ryan Pemble (6) Max Charlton (10)

FINAL

19 JAN

BPP Yellow Cards: Jack Hyde (5) Marcus Cork (1) Max Charlton (2)

Umpires: Tim Bown & Howard Smith

Lacey, owned John Horswell & played by Ryan Pemble

MVP Ryan Pemble

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04/12/2015 14:58

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Reports

Ylvisaker Cup, International Polo Club Palm Beach

Family Filled Final Patagones secure IPC’s last 18 goal title

T

he Ylvisaker Cup is played each year as a tribute to William T. ‘Bill’ Ylvisaker, a polo pioneer who was responsible for developing polo in Wellington and contributed to polo’s resurgence in the 1970s and 1980s. Ylvisaker also had a prominent polo career, reaching 7 goals with his notable wins including The U.S. Open Polo Championship, The USPA Gold Cup and two Coronation Cup titles. The Ylvisaker Cup is the final 18 goal tournament of the season at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, which traditionally is the pre-cursor to the USPA’s Gauntlet of Polo, and this year saw eight team entries.

After nearly three weeks of competition, Finals’ Day dawned with the blue shirts of

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Polo Times, March 2020

Patagones lined up against the famed white shirts of La Indiana. Patagones had suffered an early setback in the tournament with the loss of Tomas Garcia del Rio due to injury; luckily 2019 teammate Santiago Toccalino was drafted in. No doubt all four players were hoping for better luck than 2019, a year which saw them closely lose out on three different tournament titles to Dutta Corp (The Herbie Pennell Cup Final, The Joe Barry Memorial Final and The Ylvisaker Cup Semi Final).

Patagones flew out of the first line-out and Joaquín Avendaño secured an impressive opening goal, swiftly followed by a penalty conversion for Toccalino to secure their team an early lead. Despite two goals in

retaliation from La Indiana over the first half (by Jeff Hall and Santiago Gómez Romero), Patagones built upon their early lead with another penalty conversion and field goal to enter half-time with a 4-2 advantage.

When comparing penalties incurred, eight incurred by La Indiana and three incurred

by Patagones, it seems that La Indiana’s performance in the first half was hindered by their lack of discipline.

The second half began with a penalty goal from La Indiana’s Facundo Obregon, the top scorer in the tournament, however this was their only goal in the fourth chukka with Patagones controlling play and maintaining their lead. As the clock ran down for the fourth chukka, Benjamin www.polotimes.co.uk

Ylvisaker Cup, International Polo Club Palm Beach

15 JA

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Where: International Polo Club Palm Beach

Photography by ©David Lominska

The Ylvisaker Final Teams: Patagones (18) Joaquín Avendaño (2) Benjamín Avendaño (3) Santiago Wulff (5) Santiago Toccalino (8)

La Indiana (18) Michael Bickford (2) Jeff Hall (6) Facundo Obregon (6) Santiago Gómez Romero (4)

Chukka Scores: 2-1, 4-2, 4-2, 6-3, 8-5, 9-8 to Patagones

Patagones, winners of the 2020 Ylvisaker Cup

BPP Conejo, played by Benjamín Avendaño La Indiana’s Jeff Hall & Patagones’ Santi Toccalino in action in the Final

Avendano made a dash to goal and pushed Patagones’ lead to 6-3, which meant that every Patagones player had by now contributed to the scoreboard.

The fifth and sixth chukkas saw a distinct lack of field goals as both teams built upon the mistakes of their opponents, with Toccalino and Obregon mirroring each other’s penalty conversions, which meant that with just one minute left on the clock there was just a single goal separating the two teams. Wary of a La Indiana comeback, Patagones rallied to maintain their lead and rode out the winners with a final score of 9-8.

Gonzalo Avendaño, father to Joaquín and Benjamín commented after the match, “I won the 20 goal Iglehart Cup 11 years www.polotimes.co.uk

ago in 2009 with Carlos and Julio Gracida and my brother Carlos Avendaño. It really means a lot to me that after all these years my sons and my brother-in-law [Santiago Wulff] were able to win The Ylvisaker Cup. It feels like my job is complete!”

The Subsidiary Final, The George Haas Cup, was expected to be played between Aliano Realty/Horseware and Palm Beach Equine but was cancelled.

USPA Gauntlet of Polo Fixtures USPA Gold Cup: 22 February – 22 March U.S. Open Polo Championship: 21 March – 19 April

MVP Santiago Wulff

Polo Times, March 2020

39

Reports

The All-Star Challenge, Grand Champions Polo Club

Valiente Defend Title Poroto wins back-to-back WPL titles

FINA

6 FE

B

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16 FEB

Where: Grand Champions Polo Club, Florida

BPP American Polo Horse Association Final BPP: Bravita Solita, played by Poroto Cambiaso

Photography courtesy of Grand Champions Polo Club

Valiente, winners of The All-Star Challenge

The 2020 World Polo League (WPL), the brainchild of Melissa Ganzi and Bob Jornayvaz, is the only 26 goal tournament outside of Argentina. The WPL was created in 2019 following the USPA’s decision to reduce the American high goal from 26 to 20 goal; Jornayvaz and Ganzi believed it was important to preserve the highest level of polo played in the USA and so the WPL was born. The WPL begins with The All-Star Challenge Final, followed by The Founders Cup (19 February – 1 March), The Palm Beach Open (4 – 22 March) and The Triple Crown of Polo (28 March – 18 April), with the matches played between two locations, Grand Champions Polo Club and Valiente Polo Farm. This year’s WPL schedule also features The U.S. National Mixed Doubles Championship (6 – 12 April), created by Jornayvaz, pairing male and female players.

The All-Star Challenge Final was the first Final of this year’s WPL tournaments, coming 40

Polo Times, March 2020

to an end on Sunday 16 February. Last year saw a win for Valiente in the inaugural Final and this year Valiente once again returned, albeit with a different line-up, with just young Poroto Cambiaso featuring in both the 2019 and 2020 teams, to defend the title against SD Farms. Crowds filled the stands at Grand Champions Polo Club, enjoying entertainment from local singer Tom Blake who sang a soulful rendition of the National Anthem. The first match of the day was The Santa Rita Abierto, The All-Star Challenge Subsidiary Final, which saw Richard Mille defeat J5/La Dolfina 12-8, with Nic Roldan named as the Most Valuable Player.

Next-up, the main event of the day – The All-Star Challenge Final. SD Farms and Valiente had reached the Final following hard fought Semi Finals on Thursday (13 February) and Friday (14 February), in which they defeated Seminole Casino and Casablanca respectively.

American Polo Horse Association Tournament BPP: Dolfina Diosa Coronada, played by Adolfo Cambiaso Argentine Breeders Association BPP: Dolfina Diosa Coronada, played by Adolfo Cambiaso World Polo League Final BPP: V8 Mentolada, played by Juan Martín Zubía Valiente opened the match with three goals from the Cambiaso father-son duo, two from Adolfo and one from Poroto. However, with three goals from Juan Martín Zubía and one from teammate Santi Torres, by the end of the second chukka SD Farms, had outscored Valiente and taken the lead 5-4. In spite of this, the defending champions were keen to keep the title for another year and Valiente led for the remainder of the Final with SD Farms not managing to get closer than two goals in the second half.

Once again, Valiente secured the title with a strong 12-10 win over SD Farms, although if Adolfo Cambiaso had had his way, it would have been by a larger margin. “It was great fun. We didn’t play as well as we would have liked but obviously, we controlled it. They played well. We couldn’t manage to pass the ball well between us like the Semi Finals. I think we can improve.” This is the second tournament title for Valiente this season, who with a slightly different line-up (with Gonzalo Ferrari rather than Diego Cavanagh), secured The Sterling Cup earlier in the month at Grand Champions. www.polotimes.co.uk

The All-Star Challenge, Grand Champions Polo Club The All-Star Challenge Final Teams: SD Farms Valiente (25) Sayyu Dantata Bob Jornayvaz (2) Santi Torres Diego Cavanagh (9) Guillermo Terrera Poroto Cambiaso (4) Juan Martín Zubía Adolfo Cambiaso (10)

(25) (2) (7) (8) (8)

Reports

Remaining World Polo League Fixtures The Founders Cup: 19 February – 1 March The Palm Beach Open: 4 – 22 March The Triple Crown of Polo: 28 March – 18 April The U.S. National Mixed Doubles Championship: 6 – 12 April

Chukka Scores: 3-1, 4-5, 7-5, 10-6, 12-9, 12-10 to Valiente

MVP Adolfo Cambiaso

Poroto Cambiaso in action for Valiente

www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo Times, March 2020

41

Photography by Chloe Martin

Reports

Action from The Paul Sweeney Memorial Final

No Rain on Sweeney’s Parade Olivia Whittle

reports from Surrey

T

11th Paul Sweeney Memorial Trophy he annual Paul Sweeney Memorial Cup Final was underway on a slightly delayed February weekend, having been postponed to 22 February due to poor weather, for its 11th year. We saw the promise of a fantastic day of arena polo at Ash Farm Polo Club.

With many spectators high in spirit with the comfort of the cosy Clubhouse fire and comfy atmosphere to keep everyone out the cold, as well as the delicious Elios Woodfired Pizzas throughout the day, which went down a treat.

Rex Homes and Windlebrook Farm both reached the Subsidiary Final. The game began with Windlebrook Farm in the lead, but, Benji Mancini ended the first half with six goals to his name, and an 11-8 goal lead.

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Polo Times, March 2020

The second half saw Charley Howell secure a few 15 yard penalties, but Rex Homes were able to secure the win, with the match ending 18 goals to 13. Benji Mancini took home the top goal scorer honours, with eight of the 18 goals scored.

As crowds of supporters looked on with their mulled wine by the roaring fire, Pink Snail took on THUDS in The 3 goal Final.

What began as a dominating game for the THUDS side, with Saskia and Genevieve Meadows taking the lead 7-2 by half-time, saw the tables turn following the break.

Unfortunately, due to Josh Leiva having a bad fall towards the end of the second chukka, Benji Mancini kindly stepped in to fill his place. With the third chukka underway, Benji managed to assist Chino

Leiva in evening up the scoreboard to finish the fourth chukka, 13-13. Leiva had secured goal after goal, worthy of The Polo Magazine Most Valuable Player Award he was later awarded. However, just as the extra chukka began, THUDS were awarded a centre hit, which the Meadows sisters took control of, as Genevieve hit left to Saskia, who tapped the ball neatly into the goal, two minutes into the extra chukka, thus winning the title for the THUDS team.

Josh Leiva’s pony America, who played in the first chukka, took home the Polo Times Best Playing Pony rug.

The 6 goal Final followed The 3 goal Final, as J&R Polo took on Rex Homes.

The first chukka was a flurry of action as James Mann scored four of the six goals on

www.polotimes.co.uk

Paul Sweeney Memorial Trophy, Ash Farm Polo Club

Reports

FINAL

4

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Where: Ash Farm Polo Club, Surrey

The Paul Sweeney Memorial Cup 3 Goal Final Teams THUDS (3) Pink Snail (3) James Davidson (-1) Olivia Whittle (-1) Genevieve Meadows (2) Josh Leiva (0) Saskia Meadows (2) Chino Leiva (4)

MVP

Chino Leiva

the board, with Rex Homes down by four.

However, Rex Homes was able to secure a draw, 11-11 with Tarquin Southwell securing five goals in the second Chukka. The game was tight the entire way through, with only a goal in it between the teams going into half-time. J&R Polo managed to secure a steady lead, 18-15 at the end of the third chukka, however, Southwell crept back with a two-pointer and another goal to leave it at 19-19 with under two minutes to go.

Mann, however, secured a final goal ending the game 20-19 for his J&R Polo side, thus winning The 6 Goal title.

The 6 Goal Final Teams J&R Polo (6) Julian Leake (1) Riley Leake (1) James Mann (4)

Rex Homes (5) Claire Hocking Okell (-1) Georgia Sweeney (1) Tarquin Southwell (5)

BPP America, owned by Emma Leiva and played by Josh Leiva For more information about America, please turn to our Pony Power pages

www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo Times, March 2020

43

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club

Club Focus

Beaufort Polo Club Photograph courtesy of Beaufort Polo Club

Photograph courtesy of Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club

Trade stand applications for The Gloucestershire Festival of Polo are now open

Trade stand applications are now open for The Gloucestershire Festival of Polo, set to take place between 8 – 9 June. With over 6,200 people attending in 2019, the event is a hotbed of polo activity, with a tented shopping village hosting a variety of exciting stalls. Prices start from £190 + VAT, so to download the application form and terms & conditions visit www.beaufortpoloclub.co.uk

Habtoor Polo win The Dubai Polo Masters Cup 2020

The Polo Masters Cup Final Teams: Habtoor Polo (8): Mohammed Al Habtoor (0), Felix Esain (2), Juanjo Díaz Alberdi (3) & Justo Cuitiño (3) Green Gates (8): Noor Abukhadra (-1), Santos Iriarte (0), Pelayo Berazadi (5) & Tomás Iriarte (4)

Comporta Polo Club

A new Polo Club is set to open this October in Portugal.

Stefan Maria Gast and Ricardo Bellino have come together to form the Comporta Polo Club, set in the heart of the beautiful Alentejo countryside, just an hour from Lisbon. Following the completion of the Club itself, the developers plan to build a Boutique Hotel with 35 suites and private residences to finalise the first stage. The second stage will see the building of a resort hotel with 150 rooms, an apartment complex, a polo university and boarding school and villas. The entire project is due for completion in 2024. www.polotimes.co.uk

Costa Careyes Polo Club

Photograph courtesy of Costa Careyes Polo Club

On Friday 14 February, Al Habtoor Polo Resort & Club hosted the Final of The Dubai Polo Masters Cup 2020. Habtoor Polo Team, led by patron Mohammed Al Habtoor, defeated Green Gates Polo, 8-7, following a slow start to the match. Green Gates held the initial lead, but Habtoor Polo came back in the fourth chukka to tie at 7-7 at the final bell, pushing the teams into an extra chukka.

Justo Cuitiño scored the golden goal for Habtoor Polo, thus winning the title for his side. Felix Esain was named Most Valuable Player, whilst Open Dorothea, played by Mohammed Al Habtoor, was awarded the Best Playing Pony honours. The Dubai Polo Gold Cup Series continues tomorrow with The Gold Cup, with eight teams competing.

In the Final of The Chinese New Year Tournament, La Karina defeated Mangorace 7-5 to take home the title. The season continues in Mexico with the 21st annual Agua Alta USPA Constitutional Cup in April.

The Chinese Cup winners

Chantilly Polo Club FIP and Game Polo have teamed up to present The Polo Rider Cup, a polo competition designed to take place across eight European polo clubs over the coming years. Including 20 matches, the first of the group games of the 2020 tournament will take place between 2 – 7 July at Chantilly Polo Club, with the Final taking place at the Club on 12 July.

The tournament will be formatted to offer a 10 day international competition playing with the same rules in each club. The Polo Rider Cup will be held in a different country every two years.

Polo Times, March 2020

45

Club Focus

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Dallas Burston Polo Club

The arena at Dallas Burston Polo Club is available for hire on weekdays. The 2.4 acre all-weather arena is overlooked by The Millstone Hare, where guests can enjoy refreshments. The arena is available for £40 per hour, with £5 per horse. Please contact the Club for more details.

Edgeworth Polo Club

On Wednesday 29 January, Bushwood rallied to win The Metropolitan Cup at Grand Champions Polo Club. They came back in the second half to defeat Altair Polo, 7-5½, with 0 goal Mike Davis named Most Valuable Player.

Perez, played by Brandon Phillips, was named Best Playing Pony.

Meanwhile, in the Final of The Aspen Valley Cup, SD Farms rallied late in the sixth chukka to win the title against Mashomack, 11-10, on Friday 31 January. 18-year-old Sayyu Dantata was named Most Valuable Player.

On Saturday 15 February, Gracida Wine took home the $100,000 prize after defeating Dundas Polo, 12-7, in The $100,000 World Cup Final at Jan Pamela Polo Ranch. The Bushwood win The Metropolitan Cup match began with the scores tied at 2-2, but Gracida Wine soon pulled ahead and by half-time had settled on a 5-3 lead. However, Dundas Polo came back in the fourth chukka with back-to-back goals to tie the scores once more, this time at 6-6. In the sixth and final chukka, Gracida Wine rallied to score a staggering six goals to just one in reply from Dundas Polo, this great feat secured them the coveted title as well as the $100,000 prize.

Sterling Giannico was named Most Valuable Player and Evancha, played by Giannico was chosen as the Grand Champions Best Playing Pony, whilst Vicki, played by Carlitos Gracida was the American Polo Horse Association Best Playing Pony.

The Metropolitan Cup Final Teams: Bushwood (6): Mich McClelland (-1), Mike Davis (0), Santi Merlos (1) & Kris Kampsen (6) Altair Polo (6): Ashley Busch (0), Leo Mandelbaum (2), Brandon Phillips (4) & Kylie Sheehan (0) The Aspen Valley Cup Final Teams: SD Farms (8): Hope Arellano (1), Sayyu Dantata (-1), Peco Polledo (6) & Lucas Arellano (2) Mashomack (8): Josephine Hermans (0), Santo Bollini (1), Juanse Olivera (2) & Juan Monteverde (5) The $100,000 World Cup Final Teams: Gracida Wine (21): Carlitos Gracida (4), Juan Monteverde (5), Peco Polledo (6) & Sterling Giannico (4) Dundas Polo (19): Santos Merlos (2), Isidro Strada (7), Salvador Lockey (2) & Jejo Taranco (8)

Ham Polo International Polo Club, Club Palm Beach On 1 August, Edgeworth Polo Club will be hosting the extremely popular Edgefest.

Commencing at 2pm, the festival will include music all day, food trucks, bars and lots of activities. Early bird tickets are available now from £20 and can be found on the Club website.

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Polo Times, March 2020

Ham Polo Club’s tickets for the 2020 polo season are available now from their website. These tickets include exciting events such as the Friday Night Polo Parties and Sunday Polo events. What’s more, tickets for the Easter Sunday Lunch with Easter Egg Hunt are also available. For more information, please visit the Club website.

Between 2 – 5 April, The International Gay Polo Tournament will be hosted by the International Polo Club, Palm Beach, bringing together a host of the best GPL players and spectators. What’s more, guests are invited to participate in the tailgate competition, whilst enjoying the festive atmosphere and admiring the sport on the field. For more information, please visit the website gaypolo.com. www.polotimes.co.uk

Photograph courtesy of Grand Champions Polo Club

Photograph courtesy of DBPC

The DBPC arena is available for weekday hire

Grand Champions Polo Club

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Club Focus

Hawkes Bay Polo Club

Photograph courtesy of NZPA

On Sunday 2 February, Hawkes Bay Polo Club hosted The 2020 Savile Cup Tournament which saw a plethora of polo played across all levels. In The Savile Cup Final, Hololio Morningstar’s Ellen Morgenstern, Lottie Lamacraft, Thomas Hunt & Glenn Sherriff defeated Hololio Ashmole 12-5 to take home the title with Glenn Sheriff taking home the Most Valuable Player prize, The Auckland Cup, after scoring eight of his team’s goals, as well as the Best Playing Pony award for his New Zealand Thoroughbred Josie. He commented after the match, “It was our day today. All our horses performed well which allowed us to gel as a team.”

In the other matches played that day the results were as follows: The Mackenzie Final: Hawke’s Bay E defeated Hawke’s Bay D 6½-5 The Riddiford Levin Final: Presidents B defeated Waimai The Stead Cup: President A defeated Wanstead A 6-5 The Wilson Cup: Hawkes Bay A defeated Kihikihi 9-8 The Savile Handicap: Christchurch defeated Hawkes Bay 9-7

Hololio Morningstar, winners of The Savile Cup

Kirtlington Park Polo Club

Kihikihi Polo Club Photograph courtesy of Lucy Ainsley

On Saturday 8 February, crowds gathered at Kihikihi Polo Club for a double billing of polo action. In the first match of the day, The Colts (under 23-year-olds) came out on top against the New Zealand Ladies.

Next up, New Zealand faced South Africa in an International Test Match. After an exciting match it was the home team, New Zealand, who took home The Rose Bowl with a 9-7 win. The Best Playing Pony was named as Lenny Kay’s Kyle ridden by Byron Watson, whilst Watson himself picked up the Most Valuable Player honours.

The winning New Zealand Team

The Rose Bowl Teams: Piquet Hill New Zealand: John Paul Clarkin, Tom Hunt, Kit Brooks & Sam Martin Fullerton Ag South Africa: Lance Watson, Byron Watson, Gareth Evans & Dirk Van Reenen The Colts vs Ladies Teams: The Colts: Georgina Duncan, Edward Elworthy Jones, Ethan Wade & Zane Browne New Zealand Ladies: Fern Mclldowie, Zoe Reader, Harriet McKelvie & Missy Browne

Port Hills Polo Club

www.polotimes.co.uk

Christchurch Pink, winners of The Skene Cup

•

•

EST. 1926

Rutland Polo Club

Photograph courtesy of NZPA

The New Zealand Polo Association (NZPA) Skene Cup, a 6 goal tournament, was played for in Canterbury this weekend at Port Hills Polo Club. Unfortunately, bad weather on Saturday 8 February cancelled many of the matches, with just the 0 goal games being played. However, the weather turned for the better on Sunday and spectators and players enjoyed a full day of play.

Christchurch Blue defeated Port Hills in the 0 Goal Final, while the 6 goal had five team entries but just one day to decide the winner. Therefore, it was decided the winners would be those with the highest winning goal margin – all to play for! In the end it was Christchurch Pink (George Gould, Maddy Rankin, Jimmy Wood & Roddy Wood) who secured themselves The Skene Cup. The win was especially memorable for Roddy Wood who last won The Skene Cup in 1987!

Kirtlington Park Polo Club has announced that a new music festival KIRTLINGTON PARK is coming POLO CLUB to town this year. Cherwell District Council has issued Kirtlington Park, the Park in which the Club resides, the licence to hold Kite 2020, an event including live music, film showings, plays, fair rides and a ‘discussion of social, political and technological ideas’. It is expected to be held between 12 – 14 June and will have capacity for 5,000 people each day.

Rutland Polo Club has informed members about plans for the upcoming 2020 season.

Incoming Polo Manager Tom Collie has announced there will be slightly fewer, but hopefully larger, tournaments, with members from surrounding clubs invited to participate.

Membership prices will remain relatively the same, with Wednesday chukkas set to remain a permanent fixture as well as weekend Club matches with no entry fees.

Polo Times, March 2020

47

Club Focus

Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Photography by Matias Calléjo

Thai Polo & Equestrian Club

22BR were victorious in the Final of The Stephan Chimfunshi Cup

On Sunday 2 February, The B. Grimm Thai Polo Masters came to an end at the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club, following a healthy competition between six 14 goal teams. Forming part of The Royal Malaysian Polo Association League, the tournament was the second Thai instalment. In the Final, both teams were Malaysian, with 2019 winners La Familia coming up against Royal Pahang, and despite the game being very well balanced, Mohamed Moiz’s La Familia team went ahead in the second chukka, ultimately holding the lead until the end, with a 10-8 final score. Rayuela, played by Matías Vial, was named Best Playing Pony, whilst HRH The Prince Regent of Pahang Crown Prince Hassanal Shah, the Royal Pahang Captain, was named Most Valuable Patron.

The Stephan Chimfunshi Cup came to an end on Sunday 16 February at the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club in Pattaya. The tournament was in honour of Stephan Louis and also supported the Chimfunshi Foundation for chimpanzee conservation in Zambia. In the Final, 22BR took home the honours 5-4 against Thai Polo. Juana, owned by Thai Polo and played by Sylvinho Coutinho, was named Best Playing Pony,

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Polo Times, March 2020

Royal Pahang retain The B. Grimm Thai Polo Masters title

whilst the Best Playing patron went to Sylvinho Coutinho.

La Familia beat TNL 3½-2 in the Subsidiary Final. The tournament is part of the Thai Polo League which continues with the Thai Polo Cup (5 – 14 March) and La Posta Cup (27 – 29 March).

The B. Grimm Thai Polo Masters Final Teams: La Familia (14): Mohamed Moiz (0), Ignacio Ithurburu (3), Andrés Vial (5) & Matías Vial (6) Royal Pahang (14): Muhammad Sharifuddin (1), Tomás Fernandez Llorente (7), Tomás Gándura (5) & HRH The Prince Regent of Pahang Crown Prince Hassanal Shah (1) The Stephan Chimfunshi Cup Final Teams: 22BR (9): William Zhao (1), Claude Haberer (0 – substituted by Santiago Bachmann 1), Ignacio Garrahan (3) & Pedro Fernández Llorente (5) Thai Polo (10): Andy Harrison (0), Michael Taylor (3), Sylvinho Coutinho (4) & Juan Pedro Girou (3)

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Your Club News from Home and Abroad

Club Focus

Rugby Polo Club

Photograph by Rugby Polo Club

Robin Them Blind

Cheltenham win The Sworders’ Trophy

In the Final of The Sworders’ Trophy, six teams participated for the 4 goal honours.

Cheltenham were the ultimate winners, with Dallas Burston in second place and DWF in third place. Rabbit, owned by Ed Walker, was named Best Playing Pony.

Tedworth Park Polo Club

Barbados Polo Club

a

On Sunday 23 February, the Finals for The Battle of the Sexes and The Villages USA Tour were played for in Barbados. Both were competitive matches, with the MercedesBenz Men and Team Barbados the respective winners.

Team Tristar (UK) Ltd

Photograph courtesy of BPC

Tedworth Park Polo Club has announced that Heroes Day will be taking place on 30 May this year, featuring The Heroes Cup. Tickets start at £5 per person, with trade stands, food, beverages and bar by British Polo Gin. For more information, please visit the Club website.

On Friday 21 February, eight teams went head-to-head for The T-Bone Challenge, with League One won by Robin Them Blind and League Two by Karen’s Brownies. The T-Bone Challenge is a monthly tournament with the next being played on Wednesday 4 March.

Team Barbados

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Polo Times, March 2020

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Photograph by Polo Times

Women’s Polo

International & Home

5 minutes with…

Louisa Watt

Mixed handicap: -1 Women’s handicap: 0 Arena handicap: 0 How did your polo career start?

I started watching Henry Brett, then 8 goals, captaining the England team in the high goal and winning The Cartier Queen’s Cup and The Gold Cup in (2007). I was only watching in awe from the sidelines with a picnic until a client told me he played polo. I worked in the City and missed being with horses and the countryside. Like most things in life, I thought, “if he can do it, I can do it,” so started taking lessons. I was addicted from the very first thwack of the wooden head hitting the ball on the grass at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club.

What’s your greatest achievement to date?

Some of the best games are not always the ones where you win, but where you feel you played well and scored some goals to dream about. We had an amazing game in The West Sussex Cup 6 goal at Cowdray last year against Andrew Hine’s sons Ned and Louis in the Northwood team. But the greatest achievement is the latest win of the 8 Goal Victor Ludorum game with Ed Banner-Eve and Evan Power, which was our first tournament as the Farrington team.

What’s your greatest ambition?

To keep playing and move up in handicap – of course some wins for Farrington in the 10 and 12 goal this summer would be nice. High goal is a dream for the future, ideally with my current players all moving up in handicap.

Which lady players do you admire? Why? There are a number of unsung female patron heroes that I really admire.

Watching the strength and fearlessness of Ana Escobedo playing in her team Ojo Caliente is inspirational. She’s also a lovely lady on and off the field. I also take my hat off to Corinne Ricard of Murus Sanctus who was the only female patron in the high goal last year – it takes a lot of guts and a strong mentality just to get out there on the field!

What’s your favourite tournament/Club?

I’ve played a lot of 6 goal at Cowdray and love playing on Lawns. We are aiming at a higher level this year so I believe our best is yet to come – but Cowdray is the Mecca of polo for me.

Which version of the sport do you prefer, mixed polo or ladies’ polo?

I’m a supporter of ladies’ polo and it’s great to be opposite women players as it encourages you to push to be your best when you see what other women are capable of achieving, but for me, I prefer to play mixed. Everyone is equal on the field and there’s no other sport that provides that ability to compete on the same level playing field (pardon the pun!).

You know if you have a win at Cowdray it is a huge achievement and you are playing against the best teams in the world at that level in polo, whether male or female.

Are there any changes you would like to see in polo as a sport?

There are a lot of personalities in polo and it sometimes feels the umpiring differs across games if one of your players doesn’t get along well enough with them. But you can never argue with the number of goals on the scoreboard!

If you could pick a fantasy team, who would be on it and why?

A mix of young and experienced people is important in a team. But having fun and being part of a polo family is really what makes it special. I am lucky to have been playing with Ed Banner-Eve since he was 18 (and he’s lucky to have me :) ). His family are at every game and we have a good camaraderie which includes falling out from time to time! He does a lot off the field to manage our team as well as always giving 100 percent when he plays.

So the dream team for me would be a mix of Argentine and English players and different ages: Ed Banner-Eve Barto Castagnola Facundo Pieres and me!

“I couldn’t have done it without. . .”?

Can I have two? Henry Brett, from watching him play the high goal to playing with him, he has been an all-round inspiration as well as a good friend. His teaching and knowledge of horses is second to none – Vorsprung Durch Brettnique!

And of course Ed Banner-Eve – our success grows with him and his ambitions.

I look forward to more polo times, the good, the bad and the ugly and sharing higher goals this year.

Cuvée 450 Victrix Ludorum

The RCBPC Victrix Ludorum Teams: K-Law (4): Brigitte Boher (0), Georgia Sweeney (1) & Heloise Wilson-Smith (3) Pink Power (4): Mandie Beitner (0), Nell Jacob (2) & Kristy Otamendi (2) Cuvée 450 (4): Kristen Von Wedel (0), Alice Grant (1) & Rosie Ross (3) Rex Homes (3): Clare Hocking-Odell (-1), Genevieve Meadows (2) & Saskia Meadows (2)

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Photograph by Gillian Hughes Photography

Due to a change in sponsorship, this year’s Victrix Ludorum at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club was supported by Cuvée 450. The tournament saw four teams between 3-4 goals compete over 25 – 26 January.

Day one was a day of narrow victories with a 31-12 win for Rex Homes and a 12-10 win for K-Law, which meant both teams qualified for Sunday’s Final. As Finals Day dawned, the first match was the Subsidiary Final between Cuvée 450 and Pink Power, which got off to a shaky start for Cuvée 450 as Heloise Wilson-Smith had to temporarily replace Rosie Ross in the last third of the first chukka. However, with Ross remounted both teams fought hard and the evenness of the two sides was evident by the 9-9 score. The Final followed on at 2.15pm between Rex Homes and K-Law. Despite being one goal lower on handicap, the symbiotic team play between the Meadows sisters soon took them into the lead and Rex Homes ran out the winners 16-8.

Cuvée 450 & Pink Power Cuvée Cup Subsidiary finalists

For Women’s polo dates for your diary, turn to our What’s On pages

International & Home

Women’s Polo

Ladies Polo Foundation Scholarship Photograph courtesy of The Ladies Polo Foundation

The Ladies Polo Foundation (LPF) has announced it has been able to offer a scholarship to Annie Woodhead, who will be travelling to South Africa to the Brokensha family.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, the HPA were unfortunately unable to offer any scholarships to ladies in 2020 so the LPF were happy to be able to step in and help out.

Annie Woodhead is 23-years-old and has ridden since she was three-yearsold and started playing polo 10 years ago with the Pony Club. Since leaving school, Annie has spent three years working in polo resorts and played in various countries including Spain and Argentina. Annie remains a member Cirencester Park Polo Club and currently plays with a handicap of 0 goals.

Annie Woodhead has been offered a scholarship to South Africa

WIP 2020 Dates Ladies Festival of Polo Women in Polo (WIP) have released their WIP League 2020 dates. It is worth noting that all league dates and entry fees are set by the clubs and where a goal level is not specifically stated, the club is planning to run both an up to 8 goal and an 8-12 goal.

Kirtlington Park Polo Club (8-12 goal): 16 – 17 May Cheshire Polo Club: 23 – 24 May Aspect Polo Knepp (4-8 goal): 4 – 7 June Tedworth Park Polo Club: 13 – 14 June Silver Leys Polo Club: 20 – 21 June Aspect Polo Knepp (8-12 goal): 1 – 5 July Cirencester Park Polo Club: 4 – 5 July New Forest Park Polo Club: 11 – 12 July Beaufort Polo Club (0-8 goal): 25 – 26 July Westcroft Park Polo Club: 15 – 16 August

For the 2020 season Aspect Knepp Castle Polo Club has created a Women’s Polo League, which will be run on 10 Friday evenings throughout the summer, followed up with an asado. The aim of the matches is for a top female professional to lead each team in order to help instruct and guide play.

The Women’s Polo League dates: 1 May, 15 May, 29 May, 12 June, 26 June, 23 July, 7 August, 21 August, 11 September and 25 September.

For more information please contact Sarah Wiseman (sarah@aspectpolo.co.uk).

Ninth Annual Giuliana Women’s Cup Photograph courtesy of WIPN

January was a busy month for Costa Careyes Polo Club, Mexico but they still managed to find time to play the Ninth Annual Giuliana Women’s Cup. The Falk family returned again as defending champions, with two mothers (Chrissy and Katie) and two daughters (Kacy and Sydney) forming an imposing line-up on their own horses. The opposing team in the tournament, Toronto/USA, were on rented horses and had not played together before – one player flew in and met her team just as they took to the ground! The Falk family advantage was plain to see in the one-sided matches and the defending champions once again took victory. Sydney Falk was named Most Valuable Player, scoring eight goals over the two days.

After the polo, teams and supporters enjoyed a party on the beach at Playa Rosa.

Giorgio Brignone with winners Kacy, Chrissy, Katie & Sydney Falk

All handicaps are HPA women’s handicaps, unless stated otherwise Is your women’s polo not featured? Email rosabella@polotimes.co.uk with all your women’s polo news!

Polo Times, March 2020

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Women’s Polo

Statehood Day Women’s International, Manipur

Manipur Women’s International

Photography by Suzannah Turk

England Team triumphantly raise the trophy surrounded by the other five teams

On Tuesday 21 January, the women’s Great Britain team defeated the USA 5-2 in the Fifth Statehood Day Women’s International Polo Final, securing history as the first British team to do so. However, it was not a definite win from the start, with both teams tied 2-2 at half-time. However, after a break and some earnest team talks, the British ladies created many more chances for themselves with a goal from Alice Walsh followed up with another goal from teammate Lorna Broughton in the last minute of the third chukka, to create a two goal lead going into the fourth chukka. The USA ladies failed to build upon their earlier score and a fifth and Final goal from Team Captain Rosanna Turk secured her team a convincing 5-2 win and herself the Most Valuable Player award.

A total of six teams participated in this year’s tournament (Egypt, India, Manipur, Argentina, USA and Great Britain). Outside of the Final, the third place was decided on overall goal difference and saw Argentina take this position.

The Fifth Statehood Day Women´s International Polo Tournament Final Teams: Great Britain: Rosanna Turk, Heloise Wilson-Smith, Alice Walsh & Lorna Broughton (Reserve Hannah Parry Jones) USA: Alyson Whitney, Bridget Sibson, Pamela Flannagan & Carolyn Stimmel (Reserve Athena Malyn)

Marcus Hancock coaching Team Great Britain

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Speaking to Polo Times after the tournament, Team Captain Rosanna Turk commented, “It was so special to play out in Manipur, and I don’t think there is another tournament out there in the world quite like it. We put the team together with players that ride really well which I think was pretty key to get the most out of the Manipuri ponies! Everyone worked well together, and I couldn’t think of a better group to have gone with.

Marcus Hancock, our coach, was also particularly resilient in putting up with us!

“The local teams were so impressive. In the region, polo isn’t a particularly exclusive sport, and the whole town likes to come to the stadium and watch the games which made it so special to be a part of. This makes playing there a real honour, and showed how polo can be used to lift up communities and improve the lives of women.

“It was particularly special to win this year as it marked the closing of the Polo150 initiative, which was created by the UK Armed Forces Polo Association, to commemorate 150 years since polo was brought back from India to Britain by British Army Officers. It is was also the first team from England / Great Britain (men or women) to win in Manipur, which is awesome.

“Massive thanks to the Ministry of Tourism for making the trip possible, and to the USPA for their support of the tournament.

“We faced some very tough teams out there and met some brilliant people, thanks Manipur!”

For Women’s polo dates for your diary, turn to our What’s On pages

Statehood Day Women’s International, Manipur

Alice Walsh thoroughly enjoyed her time in Manipur, commenting: “I had the best time of my life playing for GB in India. We were looked after so well and the icing on the cake was beating Argentina and USA to win the tournament. The teams included Egypt, India, India (Manipur), USA, Argentina and GB. Their associations all supported the teams and the tournament, it was great being surrounded by such kind and motivational people. The Manipuri ponies were amazing. They were between 12 and 13hh but they were unbelievably tough – their backs don’t dip when you get on and they never tire (they all played a seven minute chukka for each team per match to make it fair). I played one horse called ‘Salviete’, which means Seventy, who I really clicked with. He was super quick, tough and went everywhere (which was very rare – you were often carted off towards the stables) and he won Best Playing Pony. I asked if I could buy him as he would make a great children’s pony, but we are not allowed to export the Manipuri pony until they’re not endangered anymore. There are only roughly 500 of these ponies left in India, Huntre Equine (@huntre_ equine) is an organisation that supported the tournament to raise awareness of these tiny ponies and they are researching into their breeding, but we think they are similar to the Mongolian ponies. Manipur is the birthplace of polo and we were lucky to play on one of the oldest surving polo fields ever. Manipur has a great attitude towards women in sport – about ¾ of women polo players in India are from modest backgrounds in Manipur and women feel empowered in that part of India. We donated our cash prize of roughly £600 towards Huntre Equine for better tack and care of the ponies. The winners are formally invited to return so I am hoping to return to defend our title and to meet up with our new friends next year!”

Heloise Wilson-Smith reflects on her Memories in Manipur, “We are so grateful for the generosity and hospitality shown to us from the Manipur Ministry of Tourism, and all the associates of the Polo Club involved in the organisation. The fun, small Manipuri ponies levelled the playing field for all the teams, half behaved beautifully while others were naughty ponies to their core. However, no team rode them quite like the Manipuri Ladies team who were so familiar with the ponies that it was wonderful to watch. The games were fierce yet friendly competition, played on a wonderful old ground situated in the heart of the city.

I brought out a children’s polo helmet and a white saddle pad from the UK as gifts. The helmet I gave to one of the players from the Manipuri team Thadoi Lanchanbi who had a 7-year-old daughter she hoped would one day play polo like her mother for Manipur. The saddle pad was awarded to the ‘naughtiest pony’ a very small chestnut that I played in our first match it had developed some seriously challenging, but also highly amusing, napping techniques.

Thanks to Rosanna’s great efforts to organise the trip it was a delight to play there and with no better group lady players for the job, supported by our great coach Marcus Hancock who had experienced playing there with a British Men’s team a few years previously. He was an invaluable and great support not only to our team throughout our games but also supporting other teams that we had befriended during the tournament. All in all it was a truly fantastic experience and wonderful tournament in great company across all the teams there.”

Women’s Polo

The British team upon their Manipuri ponies

Heloise’s UK saddle cloth was awarded to the ‘naughtiest pony’!

All handicaps are HPA women’s handicaps, unless stated otherwise Is your women’s polo not featured? Email rosabella@polotimes.co.uk with all your women’s polo news!

Polo Times, March 2020

53

Youth

SUPA National Universities Winter Arena Championships

Hundreds of students gather in the Midlands

Photography by Emmpix

SUPA Keeps Growing

Record breaking numbers of students attended this year’s tournament

6 FE

B

9

FEB Where: Rugby Polo Club

37 700

Universities entered

Over 700 Students

Jen Liggins

reports from Rugby

Action from the outdoor arena

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For Youth polo dates, please turn to our What’s On pages

SUPA National Universities Winter Arena Championships

Youth

Photograph courtesy of Jane Jarvis

Camaraderie was the name of the game at SUPA

The SUPA National Universities Winter Arena Championships is the biggest polo tournament in the world. Each year, hundreds of avid students gather in the heart of the country at the illustrious Rugby Polo Club for this exciting meeting of players and horsepower, all vying for one thing; SUPA glory. This year, the tournament, sponsored by polo apparel provider RJ Polo, welcomed over 200 teams from far north as deepest, darkest Scotland and as far south as balmy Brighton, with over 700 students from 37 universities, all battling for the honours of 26 divisions. Over four days of action, the teams showed their mettle, with The University of Nottingham coming out the overall winners, securing four division titles: Novice 1, 2, 3 and 4 Blue, but once again, every university had an impressive turn out, with numbers growing year on year.

Throughout Finals day, Sunday 9 February, the Club was awash with all the colours of the university rainbow, as the abundance of teams, having competed valiantly over the past three days, had their final stab at the gold. The competition, though strong across the board, was particularly prevalent in the Novice divisions, with 16 teams competing in both the Novice 4 Red and Novice 3 divisions respectively, a noticeable leap for some players, who, having competed in the burgeoning beginners divisions in 2019 have now made the step up to the Novice categories.

At the upper end of the scale, those who once competed for their universities in days gone by, returned for the SAPA (alumni) divisions. Amongst these teams, the tournament saw some of British polo’s brightest and most well known faces, in the form of the Banner-Eve brothers Alec and Ed, competing against Mikey Henderson and his younger brother Christopher. The BannerEve’s and their team, Massive Banners, ultimately took home the Upper SAPA division title, much to their delight, with Smiths Polo coming in second and Stirling in third. Stirling did, however, find some joy, winning the Medium SAPA division, with SAPA rivals Liverpool winning the Lower SAPA division.

The hope is, that following the SUPA leagues, players will continue their polo career and investment into the sport, by venturing into the SAPA leagues, which act as an opening into the general world of British polo. With such record numbers now participating in the SUPA and SAPA divisions, the future of British polo is looking pretty bright.

Afterwards, Polo Times spoke with Molly Orrin, Publicity Secretary for this year’s multi-winning university, the University of Nottingham Polo Club “The past weekend competing at SUPA Winter Nationals represented the culmination of more than two months of work from our committee, coach and teams. This effort produced outstanding results for our club with more National Champions at this tournament than ever before and more than any other university. University of Nottingham Polo Club have now dominated every single tournament it has entered in the past 12 months, an achievement that cannot be overstated.

“On behalf of UoN Polo, we would like to thank Offchurch Bury Polo Club, where

BPP

Headline stats at a glance: - 42 University of Nottingham Polo members taken to the tournament “Winter Nationals” held by SUPA - 15 University of Nottingham Polo teams entered into the tournament - First in all of the novice divisions: N1, N2, N3, N4 - First place in the Beginner combined division - Second place in the Beginner 1 division - Third place in the Beginner 2 division

MVP MIP Abi Grant

Corita, owned by Druids Lodge

we spend hours training in preparation for tournaments, on the amazing ponies groomed by ‘Niamh Howe’ and outstanding training provided by coach ‘Grant Collett’.”

Cameron Bee

To read more Corita, please turn to our Pony Power pages

SUPA National Universities Winter Arena Championships, Winners

Beginner 1 1st – Warwick B1 2nd – Nottingham B1 3rd – St Andrews B1

Is your youth polo not featured? Email editorial@polotimes.co.uk with all your youth polo news!

Beginner 2 1st – London Unicorns 2nd – Durham B2 3rd – Nottingham B2

Polo Times, March 2020

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Youth

SUPA National Universities Winter Arena Championships

SUPA National Universities Winter Arena Championships, Winners

Beginner 3 Red 1st – Birmingham Cubs 2nd – Warwick B2 3rd – Kent Canterbury Cavaliers

Beginner 3 Blue 1st – Loughborough B3 2nd – London B3 3rd – Harper Too Hot To Trot

Beginner 4 Red 1st – Exeter Corita 2nd – Warwick B4 3rd – Cambridge B4

Beginner 4 Blue 1st – Oxford Brookes B4 2nd – RVS B4a 3rd – Warwick B4b

Combined Beginner Red 1st – UWE/Cardiff/Nottingham 2nd – Reading/Cardiff 3rd – Aberdeen/St Andrews

Combined Beginner Blue 1st – Birmingham/Surrey 2nd – Bristol/Liverpool 3rd – Warwick/Stirling

Median Blue 1st – London Dragons 2nd – Brighton Cougars 3rd – Royal Holloway

Median Red 1st – Brighton Jaguars 2nd – Bournemouth Siberians 3rd – RVC

Combined Median 1st – Imperial/London 2nd – York/Loughborough 3rd – Oxford Brookes/RVC

Novice 1 1st – Nottingham N1 2nd – Surrey Stags 3rd – St Andrews N1

Novice 2 1st – Nottingham N2 2nd – London N2 3rd – St Andrews N2

Novice 3 1st – Nottingham N3 2nd – St Andrews N3b 3rd – Surrey Scorpions

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For Youth polo dates, please turn to our What’s On pages

SUPA National Universities Winter Arena Championships

Novice 4 Red 1st – Birmingham Tigers 2nd – St Andrews N4 3rd – Cambridge N4

Novice 4 Blue 1st – Nottingham N4a 2nd – Harper Adams N4 3rd – Oxford Brookes N4

Combined Novice Red 1st – Forty Two Juniors 2nd – Aberdeen/St Andrews 3rd – Exeter Topcat

Combined Novice Blue 1st – Chinos Angels 2nd – Bournemouth/Birmingham 3rd – Nottingham/Portsmout

Lower Intermediate Blue 1st – St Andrews LI 2nd – Warwick 3rd – Edinburgh

Lower Intermediate Red 1st – Exeter Bacchus 2nd – Oxford LI 3rd – Birmingham Lions

Combined Lower Intermediate 1st – Warwick 2nd – Nottingham LI 3rd – Your Worst Knightmares

Upper Intermediate 1st – Harper Only Fools On Horses 2nd – Jurassic Park Polo 3rd – Regents

Open 1st – Oxford Sanskrit 2nd – Bristol

Lower SAPA 1st – Liverpool 2nd – Los Pinguinos 3rd – Reading

Medium SAPA 1st – Stirling 2nd – Rugby School 3rd – Nottingham Alumni

Upper SAPA 1st – Massive Banners 2nd – Smiths Polo 3rd – Stirling

Is your youth polo not featured? Email editorial@polotimes.co.uk with all your youth polo news!

Youth

Polo Times, March 2020

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Youth

All Aspects SUPA National of Youth Universities Polo Winter Arena Championships

The Eighth Annual Intercollegiate Challenge Cup USA trounce home team

Great Britain on the ball against the USA

Rebecca Bray, University of Winchester “After two days of university chukkas, we ended our Saturday with a Great Britain vs. USA International Match, which consisted of four chukkas, umpired by Michael Henderson and commentated by Thom Bell.

“To begin proceedings, a Canadian player from Brighton University serenaded us with both the USA and British National anthems, followed by the line-up of the teams. As a 9 goal team, Great Britain consisted of Ben Duckworth from Regents University, Lolly Stanhope White from Bristol University and Tom Coid from Winchester University.

“Given a warm welcome, the 7 goal American adversaries were introduced: Elly Schwengel from Michigan State University, Shariah Harris from Cornell University and Molly Agee from PT Loma Nazarene University. Druids Polo Club were extremely generous to loan out their ponies to the USA team for the chukkas.

“Swapping horses after every chukka, the teams took their time to get to know one another after not playing together before this match. It was exciting to see how well they played considering this, with some amazing goals scored and big competition between the sides.

“During the first chukka, we saw some amazing clean goals made by both teams, as well as some long hits from Harris, who is the first black woman to play the high goal polo in 58

Polo Times, March 2020

Team USA win the title

the USA, doing her team proud. Great Britain soon picked up their goals against USA as they started two goals behind due to their handicap, ending the chukka with the score at 5-4 in Great Britain’s favour.

“Starting the next chukka, Great Britain pulled ahead at a fast pace, leaving the overall score at 11-7 to the home team, with some amazing stickwork shown from young Ben Duckworth, who only began to learn how to ride and play polo in 2018 and has now been awarded the Filippo Corsini Polo Scholarship, saving several goals from the USA. “Team USA picked up the ball in the third chukka, with quick passes and hit outs as well as a player swap for their reserve player, Fritz Felhaber. Seven minutes went by fast watching these players race around the arena. We saw some spectacular backhands

from Team USA within the exciting chukka, keeping the ball in play enabling both teams to showcase their skills.

“In the end, with some amazing stickwork from both teams, the USA just edged ahead of the home side, with a 15-13 final score. Filled with families and friends from both teams, the stands were filled with chatter and cheers throughout the match and a huge congratulations to team USA following their win.

“The Most Valuable Player honours were awarded to Team USA’s Molly Agee.

Agee, who is currently the President of her University Polo Club, has tried her hand at all equine disciplines, but has shown her promise at university to go on with representing the USA internationally. We look forward to seeing what these players can bring to polo in the next few years.”

For Youth polo dates, please turn to our What’s On pages

All Aspects of Youth Polo

Youth

The Junior Arena Gold & Silver Cups There are two new additions to the youth arena polo calendar. On 15 March, The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club will be hosting The RCBPC Berkshire Junior Arena Silver Cup (under 14-years-old) and The RCBPC Berkshire Junior Arena Gold Cup (under 16-years-old).

Eight competitive teams will be participating, with The Gold Cup team places filled at record pace following the RCBPC announcement, due to high popularity.

The Gold Cup teams will be as follows: Asian Art Juniors, Neogem, Oxford Polo and New Forest Young Guns. There is still one spot remaining in The Silver Cup. All players in this division must have a handicap of no more than -1.

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Polo Times, March 2020

59

Knowledge

Pony Power

Daisy Height: 15.2hh Age: 17-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Owned by: Adolfo Casabal and La Mariposa Played by: Ed Banner-Eve Tournament: The HPA Winter Victor Ludorum at The Royal County of Berkshire Polo Club Where is she from/breeding? She is an Argentine Thoroughbred.

How long have you had her? For three years.

What are her strengths? She is very easy.

She doesn’t have much power, but a lot of handle, which is an ideal attribute in the arena.

Photograph by Polo Times

How has she gone this season? Really well.

She also played on the snow in Kitzbühel with Segundo Darritchon which she really enjoyed.

Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? This is her first time.

What are your plans for her in the future?

She is going to play in The Arena Gold Cup at

RCBPC, then rest for a couple of months, ready to play the summer season.

Describe her in three words. Little Legend, machine.

What are your plans for him in the future? He will be staying with the Emlor team where one of the team will be playing him in the medium goal.

world, but certainly the most genuine with the biggest heart. He hasn’t got any quirks really, he’s just a gentle giant!

Casanova Emlor Height: 16.2hh Age: Seven-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Gelding Owned by: Spencer McCarthy Played by: Nacho Gonzalez Tournament: The 36th Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2020 What is his breeding? Casanova Emlor is from Maquina x Romantica.

How long have you had him? Since birth!

He’s a homebred.

Photograph by Polo Times

Tell us about his background? Nacho and I started playing him as a five-year-old and he progresses every year.

What are his strengths? Definitely his rideoffs and speed.

How has he gone this season? In 2019, he was playing 15 and 18 goal with Nacho.

It was his first proper season at this level and he played so well we thought we would give him a run in St Moritz.

Has he won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? No, this is his first.

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Does he have any special quirks?

Casanova definitely prefers the girl grooms to the men! He’s not the bravest horse in the

Describe him in three words? Huge, kind, dude.

www.polotimes.co.uk

Pony Power

Knowledge

Corita Height: 15hh Age: 22-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Owned by: Druids Lodge Polo Club Played by: Players across the board from beginners to the Americans in the SUPA International!

Tournament: The SUPA University Winter National Championships Where is she from/breeding? She is from Argentina.

How long have you had her? Five years.

How has she gone this season? She’s had a really good season and her fan club continues to grow!

Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? She won the Best Playing Pony at this same event in 2018.

Photograph by Emmpix

What are her strengths? She is strong as an ox in the ride off, gutsy, loves the arena game, nice and handy.

What are your plans for her in the future? She will carry on doing lessons and playing Club polo until the end of March, after which she will go out for a summer holiday. She’ll spend a few months getting

nice and fat then return to work in October as she just does the arena season.

What are your plans for her in the future? She is now going to have a month’s holiday before coming back in to get ready for the summer season.

Describe her in three words. Bold, brave, fast.

Describe her in three words. Powerful, level, loveable!

America Height: 15.2hh Age: 11-years-old Colour: Bay Sex: Mare Owned by: Emma Leiva Played by: Josh Leiva Tournament: The Paul Sweeney Memorial Cup at Ash Farm Polo Club Where is she from/breeding? She is from Ireland.

Photograph by Emma Leiva

How long have you had her? Only six months so far, since the start of winter.

What are her strengths? She is extremely agile, fast and powerful.

How has she gone this season? She has played well all season long.

Has she won any other Best Playing Pony Awards? Not this winter, since I’ve had her, but I’m sure there are more to come.

www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo Times, March 2020

61

Knowledge

Nutrition Focus

Lorna Edgar – specialist equine nutritionist

Hanging in the Balance!

Human and equine diet similarities

62

Polo Times, March 2020

Photography courtesy of Lorna Edgar

‘Balanced’ is a word I’m always using when talking about feeding horses. Whether it is a retired horse in a field or a horse preparing to compete at The Olympics, their nutritional needs must be catered for, and a polo pony being prepped for fitness for the season ahead must also receive a balanced diet.

Human athletes work closely with nutritionists to ‘dot the i’s and cross the t’s’ to help reach their optimum fitness and performance, so why wouldn’t we be doing the same for horses?

In polo, there is a lot of focus on energy, with an emphasis on providing enough energy, but more often than not, I find myself taking diets back to basics and initially focusing on a balanced diet of fibre, quality protein, vitamins and minerals with energy/ calories as the last aspect.

Humans require a combination of fruit, vegetables, meat and carbohydrates to achieve good health, and depending on the individual’s metabolic needs, a diet will be tailored according to the individual’s requirements. Polo players and professional riders are very aware of their diets and fuelling themselves correctly – as an athlete, you would not maintain your fitness on a diet of white bread and junk food, so why expect the equine athlete to, when their performance can win or lose you a game?

As we know, horses on a continuously unbalanced diet can begin to show loss of muscle integrity, with compromised performance, lethargy, over-excitability, poor feet and weak immunity, to name a few issues. To counteract some of these problems, we end up resorting to the use of supplements of vitamins and minerals (injected or oral), when really it’s better to look at the feed bucket first to see what, and how much, is being fed and assessing if it’s the right product for that individual. And of course, for those who know me well, the absolute focus is also on fibre!

Balancing key nutrients to suit the individuals’ workload, energy, calorie and temperament requirements will allow optimum performance and peak fitness.

Adding balancer to a bucket of feed

Traditional methods have a place in feeding, but science has a role to play in developing nutrition for performance and athletic

longevity. Feeding is an art and a science – it is always worth exploring alternatives in maintaining a BALANCED DIET! www.polotimes.co.uk

Nutrition Focus

Knowledge

The key nutrients to ensure a balanced diet are: Protein – the ‘building block of life’. A major component of blood, muscles, organs and enzymes and therefore a critical part of the equine diet Vitamins – provided by the diet or manufactured in the body. Vitamins A, B, C, D, E, and K are all essential for maintaining optimum health – excesses can be as detrimental as deficiencies Minerals – are either major (macro) minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sodium, chloride and sulphur, or trace minerals such as copper, zinc, manganese, selenium, cobalt, iodine and iron – excesses can be as detrimental as deficiencies Carbohydrates – are an energy/calorie source in the form of structural (fibre) and non-structural carbohydrates (cereals) Fats/Oils – an energy/calorie source Water – absolutely paramount!

A graph clarifying known mineral interactions

C ontact Lorna Edgar of Baileys Horse Feeds on lorna@baileyshorsefeeds.co.uk

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Polo Times, March 2020

63

Knowledge

Fitness Insight: Climb the Fitness Ladder: Part Five

Through playing professionally, coaching beginners and personal training, Jason has become very accustomed to understanding where players can develop different areas of fitness and movement patterns to improve their performance. In this issue, Jason offers four simple, but effective workouts that can help players to up the intensity of their workout and build up their stamina, ready to take to the polo fields

Climb the Fitness Ladder Part Five: Boost your game with these HIIT workouts HIIT is a workout whereby you are training at a high intensity, (75 to 100 percent) for a short period of time, with short rest periods in between. It is a good way to reach your cardio capacity and increase your stamina.

When playing most sports, the body will be performing like this, with periods of high intensity and periods of lower intensity, or rest.

When training, it is good to try to create an intensity and environment that is equal to, or greater than, the intensity of the sport you are training for. This will help you to get used to the environment in which you will be playing during the game. The benefits of this are not only physical, but also mental.

Physically, you will be fitter and therefore be able to perform at a higher level, which in turn helps you to stay mentally focused. A famous American football player and Coach, Vince Lombardi, said, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all’. When we are fatigued, it’s much harder to have confidence and to remain focused on the play.

In the following paragraphs are four workouts that will help you to boost your cardio capacity. The workouts are a short six to 10 minute spell which emulates the intensity of a chukka. You can track and progress these workouts, by adding a couple more reps to each round, increasing the weights or adding an extra round.

Guide

The workouts are called EMOMs (every minute on the minute), which means we perform a certain amount of reps on each of the two exercises of the workout and rest until the next minute starts. As a guide, aim for six to 10 minutes on each EMOM. I have also recommended the amount of reps, but you can play with these. You should alter the number of reps so you will end up with around 15 to 30 seconds rest before the next minute starts. I would recommend these workouts as a finisher to a training session, or you could do three or four as a full workout.

EMOM Chukka One

• Ball slams x 8+ Reps

64

Polo Times, March 2020

• Side-step cone taps x 10+ Reps

www.polotimes.co.uk

Fitness Insight: Climb the Fitness Ladder: Part Five

Knowledge

EMOM Chukka Two

• Banded squat jumps x 8+ Reps

• Sit-ups x 8+ Reps

EMOM Chukka Three

• Kettlebell Swings x 15+ Reps

• 20 yard sprint x 1 Reps

EMOM Chukka Four

• Alternate Reverse lunges (opt. Weighted) x 10 + Reps

www.polotimes.co.uk

• Burpees x 4+ Reps

Find Jason on Instagram: @jason_tola_warren or contact him at fitness@hampoloclub.com and www.tolalifestyle.co.uk Polo Times, March 2020

65

Knowledge

Medical Insight: Polodoc

Dr.med. Andreas Krüger is a Swiss board orthopaedic and trauma surgeon in Zurich, who specialises in knee and shoulder surgery. Andi is a second generation of tournament doctors for equine sports, known as Polodoc since 2013

R. Wilson teaching G. Lins the diaphragma stretching for opening the “breathing space” pre-match after SI – joint contusion

Photography courtesy of Polodoc

R. Wilson and Physio S. Rausch treating G. Lins direct post-match after SI – joint contusion with local manual treatment and Compex® as well as fascial taping

Next Level

Warm up, perform properly & cool down To stay safe and get the most out of your muscular skeletal system, you must always include a pre-game warm up and then finish with a cool down to get your body into gear.

During a tournament we can all go from zero to hero and push hard, but the safe way to perform is to bring the body’s temperature up slowly and loosen up the muscles before you mount your horse. That’s what warm ups are designed to do. Stretching, on the other hand, is done in order to improve overall flexibility. Once muscles have worked, they are in their most compliant state and they let us stretch further than we normally would, gaining more ground while we’re at it.

Current studies endorse these procedures.

Even body or muscle soreness after painful 66

Polo Times, March 2020

contusion in case of a fall, can be treated with a specialised treatment to maintain peak performance.

Warm up

Warm ups are critical for better performance and fewer injuries, but stretching is somewhat of an optional extra – we can do it and we should do it – it is highly recommended.

Warm ups should always be dynamic and always use active exercises (e.g. hops, rotations and chest expansions) to get our bodies ready. We need to get the blood flowing, especially during colder seasons.

Everyone can become flexible, but some people have a natural gift for flexibility while

others have to struggle to gain every little bit, but everyone can get there. It takes persistence and regular training, and the muscles adapt and respond.

The best time to stretch is when muscles are really well warmed up, as they exhibit a high degree of elasticity, which means an increased range of movement and display greater flexibility. This is the reason why everyone should stretch; for range of movement.

Tournament Performance

Our bodies benefit from stretching after we have already warmed up, as our muscles are more susceptible to them allowing us to stretch further and hold the stretches longer, therefore the gain in the game can be felt.

Additional massage and manipulation of current or acute ‘old’ problematic joints can relieve restrictions and may encourage a better feeling with increased function.

Worst Case: In the winter, the snow polo environment does not provide a warm up friendly environment. Additionally, the fields can be slippery with the higher risk for unintended meeting with the ground when the horse slips. Due to the semi soft landing on the snow, bruising and distortion of joints, especially of the SI (the joint between the sacrum and the pelvis) is quite common. This injury is not particularly dangerous but can be very painful and may even withhold you from continuing to play in a tournament. www.polotimes.co.uk

Medical Insight: Polodoc

All measures must the taken as fast as possible to minimise swelling and expansion of a large haematoma. Initial myofascial taping in combination with Compex mobilisation of the surrounding tissue, as well as smooth manual therapy, can change the course of contusion.

An SI joint contusion can limit performance with massive lower back pain, so painkillers (Non-steroid drugs, such as Bromelase) may also be prescribed.

Cool Downs

Cool downs are the hardest routine to establish.

The winner wants to celebrate his success and the loser is potentially too heavy hearted to find the time to do what is necessary. It doesn’t have to be stretching at all times. Even yoga or meditation, or a little jog or walk can get you back into normal pace gradually and give you time to recover. Unlike warm ups, they are not absolutely necessary, but they do help.

Although cool downs don’t have to include stretching, it is the smart thing to do. You benefit the most from stretching exercises when you have already exercised for a prolonged period of time – that’s when your muscles require it the most.

Expert’s Comment with Ricardo Wilson

Photograph by Reinhardt & Sommer Photography

Acute Therapy

Knowledge

Polo is a unique sport, in that it involves multiple types of athletes. Not only the horse but the rider. Furthermore, both the horse and rider need to be treated as athletes.

The horse is always readied and warmed up prior to the first chukka and the rider should be as well. This will help both athletes from succumbing to injuries and post-game soreness.

The first step in helping to prevent injury is a proper neuromuscular warm up. This should focus on CARs (Controlled Articular Rotations) for the hips and shoulders in particular.

By taking the joints through the largest possible range of motion, you wake up the capsules and help to lubricate the joints. This increases functionality and overall stability.

Improving functionality and working the full range helps to better protect against injury by better familiarising our bodies to uncommon positions that could be encountered in a collision or fall.

By running through the full ROM (Range of Motion), our bodies are better able to adapt to these rare occasions, thus helping the body reduce stress from them, which means it is less likely to succumb to injury.

These warm ups should take, depending on environment, 20-30 minutes.

Cool downs should also contain a full range of motion slow exercises and static stretches. They should be low impact and include things such as walks, hip rotations, arm and shoulder circles and stretch holds for 20-30 seconds, two to three times each.

Cool downs should last five to 10 minutes.

This is where a knowledgeable physio will come into play. The ability to take you through these actions can help prevent injury, increase performance during play and aid in recovery. Check us out in the tents!

Last tips for Marc Ganzi from World Polo League pre- match winning the Snow Polo World Cup Kitzbühel

Ricardo Wilson improving Nic Roldan’s free range of shoulder motion

Guilhermo Lins practicing the star stretch with Quad stretch after his painfull SI – joint contusion the day before

www.polotimes.co.uk

For more information on Polodoc contact Andreas Krüger at drmedkrueger@gmail.com or www.polodoc.ch

Polo Times, March 2020

67

Valery Mischchenko

Jan-Erik Franck & Violeta Mangrinyan

Sébastien Le Page

Elcin Jamalli & Agustin Kronhaus

The 36th Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz; Engadin Valley, St. Moritz; 24 – 26 January

Sun-kissed St. Moritz The heart of the Engadin Valley was once again aflame with polo prowess, as thousands of spectators crowded the stands for the kick-off of the world’s oldest, biggest and most extravagant snow polo event – the 36th annual Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz. The pristine snow conditions and blazing sunshine ensured ideal playing conditions for the best snow polo players and perfect viewing for the gathered gaggle of spectators.

This year was hot, hot, hot – even climate change nonbelievers would have their work cut out not admitting that 2020 was undoubtably a lot warmer than previous years, which meant the sunglasses and suncream were essential and the Perrier-Jouët team were busy keeping the VIP glasses topped up with perfectly chilled champagne. Aside from the world-class polo, upon the frozen lake guests enjoyed the traditional Schlitteda, DJ Mike on the decks, sumptuous snacks from Badrutt’s Palace all while being entertained by with live music from Huw Lewis. Each afternoon as the VIP tent closed its doors and the ponies bedded down for the night, the revelry continued with Gala Dinners, exclusive after-parties and fondue evenings. If you do just one thing today, book your tickets for The Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz 2021!

Reto & Tito Gaudenzi

Valentin Novillo Astrada & Fabio Meier

Photography by Polo Times & Snow Polo World Cup St. Moritz

Paulina Jakubec, Sonja Riley & Emma Mariane

Pato Bolanterio & Thomas Winter

Marcello Garrahan & Oliver Ellis

Nacho Gonzalez & Dr Piero Dillier

Robert Strom

Niccolo Belingardi Clusoni, Daniela Märky & Gian-Andrea Conrad

Ruth Reinger & Barbara Krüger

Matt Thijs

Jürg Reinger

Thijs Povel & Flora Babot

Nic Roldan

Max Charlton

Kutlay Yaprak

DJ Mr Mike

Becky Simpson & Dr Andi Krüger

Malcolm Borwick

Martin & Nicola Markham

Nick Hine & Enrico Roselli

Marc & Melissa Ganzi

Sylvia Miles Woods

Adrian Laplacette Jr

The Lent Family

Sharon Harding, Sue Thomas & Vanessa Graham

Sarah Glaze & Aureole Dear

Cowdray Members’ Evening; Cowdray House, Midhurst; Thursday 30 January

Cosy Cowdray Nights

Chris Bethell & Jonathan Russell

It may have been a cold and murky January evening outside, but inside the beautiful Cowdray House, the fires were lit, drinks were flowing, and 150 Cowdray Park Polo Club members were enjoying a fabulous reception under the magnificent barrel-vaulted ceiling of Buck Hall. There were certainly no signs of any January blues as excited 2020 season chatter filled the room. Guests savoured the opportunity to catch up with polo friends, marvel at the stunning antiques and paintings on the historic walls of Cowdray’s luxurious venue, whilst enjoying a selection of delicious canapés. Polo Manager, Chris Bethell, and Cowdray CEO, Jonathan Russell, took to the stage during the evening to give members, both playing and social, an insight into what is set to be an exciting season ahead at Cowdray Park.

Henrietta Brailsford & Jo Jackson

Photography courtesy of Cowdray Park Polo Club Nikki Bethell & Melanie Vere-Nicoll

Olivia & Neil Donnan

James Rolls, Clare Girardot & Chris Bethell

Tim Williams, Tessa & Nick Taylor, Ed Hitchman with James & Lauren Beim

Nick Clague, Hugo & Lara Baldwin with Harry Muddle

Malcolm Borwick with Stephanie Brown & Martin Brown

Charlene Goudkuil Pieternel, Miña Kimman & Larrissa Esser

Amy Goodman & Erica Renelt

Jamie Morrison & Blake Stone

The Country House & Stables Exhibition; Gallery 8, London; Thursday 6 February

From Country to City

Jane Ayala & Heloise Wilson-Smith

Sebastian Dawnay’s brainchild, The Country House & Stables, ventured into central London in February, showcasing the best and most beautiful polo artwork out there, portraying our sport in all shapes and colours.

From Alice Gipp’s fine art photography to Debbie Harris’s paintings, each piece is a delightful depiction of an element of polo and the countryside we all know and love. To celebrate this exciting exhibition, art fans travelled to London to both commend and observe these great artists, with some even writing a cheque or two and taking home a bit of country life for themselves. Excitingly, The Country House & Stables has been invited back to the gallery next year to exhibit once again, so if you missed out this year, fear not!

Aurora Eastwood & Marchioness Clare Milford Haven

Photography by of Aurora Eastwood

Debbie Harris’ art

Nick Britten-Long

Some of the exhibited art

Sebastian Dawnay

Sarah Grant & Ana Escobedo

Jeff Picksley & Debbie Harris with Gregory & Lucy Gormley

Thom Bell & Cameron Bee

Will Mundy

Gigi Chan, Emilio Quiroz & Fran Harpenden

Ed Banner-Eve

SUPA National Universities Winter Arena Championships; Rugby Polo Club; Sunday 9 February

SUPA On the Rise In another record-breaking year of play for SUPA, over 700 players came from far and wide to Rugby Polo Club in February for the highlight of the student season. With a whopping 202 teams, the weekend was full to the brim with thrilling chukkas and even more exciting parties. As the sun set on the final day, players, coaches and parents gathered for all the teams to be presented with the myriad of prizes and mementos. The cheers resounded around the arenas, as the teams came up three by three for their trophy and picture. The University of Nottingham were the resounding winners, taking home four of the Novice division titles, but with SUPA on the rise, one thing’s for sure – the future looks bright for university polo.

Alec Banner-Eve & Jade de Vere-Drummond

Mikey Henderson

Photography by Polo Times & Emmpix

The Royal Holloway University Team

Maddie Boast, Corita & Zara Coombes

Luke Sandys Renton & Lauren Bull

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The SUPA silverware

Mía Cambiaso & Juan Martín Zubía

Joey Casey with wife Lorraine and family

Robert & Tiffany Orthwein with Nick Barry

Annual Hall of Fame Dinner & Inauguration; Polo Museum and Hall of Fame, Wellington, Florida; Friday 14 February

Valentine’s Inaugurations Tony Coppola, Karl Ude-Martinez & Michael Prince

On Friday 14 February, the Museum of Polo celebrated its 31st Awards Gala by honouring the Hall of Fame Inductees for 2020 – Joey Casey, Cyril R. Harrison, Pat Dix, George C. Sherman, Jr., Bob Jornayvaz’s gelding Wembley and Harry Payne Whitney’s mare Gargantilla. Even ill-timed rain could not dampen the spirits of those who came for this annual highlight of the Florida polo season. The array of guests included Melissa and Marc Ganzi, Bob Jornayvaz, Adolfo and Maria Cambiaso, Michael Prince and David Cummings for US Polo Assn., USPA Chairman Stewart Armstrong and President Tony Coppola, Jack Oxley, patrons Curtis Pilot, Chip Campbell and the list goes on, all excited to gather to celebrate another fantastic year of polo in America.

Congratulations to all the inductees!

Jaenie Miranda, Olexa Celine & Christine Martin

Photography courtesy of the Museum of Polo Melissa Ganzi & Pat Dix

Debby & Jack Oxley with Tracy Gudgel

Gil & Skey Johston with Lee Harrison Child & Peter Poor

Liberty Mewbourne & Grant Ganzi

Bill Kraft & MIke Egan

Chip & Camp Campbell with Curtis Pilot, Mike Farah, Katherine Campos & Kris Kampsen

Melissa Ganzi & Bob Jornayvaz

Delfina Blaquier & Nacho Figueras

Fabrice Roger, Matt Brandon, Charles Ward, Benedicte de Boysson, Karl Ude-Martinez & Frederic Roy

Gillian Hughes

Georgia Toffolo, Georgia Sweeney & Liz Flynn

Briony Lewton

Olivia Whittle

Paul Sweeney Memorial Final; Ash Farm Polo Club; Saturday 22 February

11 Years Strong

Claire & Gary Hocking-Ockell

This spring has seen a myriad of wet weather, from heavy rain, to incessant winds and good old fashioned British drizzle, but the hardy players at Ash Farm were not to be deterred!

Despite a week’s postponement, The Paul Sweeney Memorial Day went ahead at the Surrey Club, marking its 11th year with a plethora of exhilarating polo and avid spectators warming their cockles in the cosy Clubhouse. Elios Woodfired Pizzas kept the hungry guests fed and watered, with entertainment both in and around the arena. In true Ash Farm style, families and friends celebrated heartily, with pats on the back all round to those who had braved the weather to compete. A great day for all!

Bridie Courtney-Morgan, Liz Flynn & Hugo Singh

Photography by Chloe Martin

Jamie Stocks with Miles & Arty Cottrell

Lesley Sweeney

Nicola Taylor & Ola Kelly

Charley Howell

Brooke Singeton-Cars

Dyanne Worsnop

Ross & Milo Byrne

Max Charlton & Elliot McTaggart

Phoebe & Lisa Leake

Polo directory

What’s On – Polo Fixtures Club

Tournament Name

Handicap Start Date End Date

Ash Farm

Pro Am Winter Closer

Open

02/03/20

03/03/20

Druids Lodge

Winter League Finals – Renshaw Trophy

Open

07/03/20

08/03/20

Al Habtoor

Standard Chartered Gold Cup

18

16/02/20 06/03/20

Challenges

Open

31/03/20

Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club

Abatilles Cup

4–6

13/03/20 20/03/20

Al Habtoor

Dubai Challenge Cup

10

14/03/20 21/03/20

Dubai Polo & Equestrian Club

Ascention’s Cup

6

27/03/20 04/03/20

Al Habtoor

Dubai Cup

6–8

01/04/20 10/04/20

Westcroft Park

10/03/20

Arena Youth Polo Dates Black Bears

Schools Girls Arena National Championships

Open

08/03/20

08/03/20

Black Bears

Junior Schools National Arena Championships

Open

22/03/20

22/03/20

Dubai

New Zealand

WOMEN’S POLO 06/03/20 21/03/20

Cambridge

Keyte Watson

Open

07/03/20 08/03/20

SI Championships (Gould Cup)

Open

14/03/20 29/03/20

14 – 16

25/03/20 29/03/20

South Canterbury Auckland

Brinks Tournament

Open

28/03/20 29/03/20

Open

26/03/20 29/03/20

International Polo Club

US Open Women’s Polo Championship

18 – 22

The Villages

Florida Circuit Women’s Challenge

Plettenberg

Ladies African Open

South Africa

Argentina Buenos Aires

Republic Cup

Open

5/3/2020 3/5/2020

America 22

22/02/20 22/03/20

Val de Vie

Val de Vie 4 Goal

Open

06/03/20 08/03/20

Plettenberg

Plett Estate Agents Cup

Open

08/03/20 08/03/20

Val de Vie

Val de Vie 0 Goal

Open

13/03/20 15/03/20

Plettenberg

Nations Cup

Open

13/03/20 15/03/20

Plettenberg

Club Tournament

Open

20/03/20 22/03/20

Plettenberg

10 & 4 Goal

4 & 10

23/03/20 29/03/20

International Polo Club

USPA Gold Cup

Port Mayaca

Heritage Cup

14 – 18

05/03/20 28/03/20

Shongweni

Shongweni Tournament

Open

27/03/20 29/03/20

Sarasota

National Inter-Circuit Championship

8 – 12

06/03/20 17/03/20

Rocking Four

Rocking 4 Tournament

Open

27/03/20 29/03/20

Santa Barbara

Rossmore Cup

8 – 12

13/03/20 22/03/20

Sarasota

National Outdoor Commander in Chief Cup

10 – 12

20/03/20 31/03/20

International Polo Club

U.S. Open Polo Championship

22

21/03/20 19/04/20

Australia

Thailand Thai Polo & Equestrian

Thai Polo Cup

8 – 10

05/03/20 14/03/20

Thai Polo & Equestrian

La Posta Cup

8 – 10

27/03/20 29/03/20

Intercontinental Hua Hin

Princess PA’s Beach Polo

Open

09/04/20 11/04/20

Vallex

WPNEC Club Cup

0, 4 – 6 & 8 – 10

07/03/20

08/03/20

Windsor

Windsor Tournament

0, 4, 8 & 12

07/03/20

08/03/20

Beach Polo

Windsor

Windsor Tournament

0, 4, 8 & 12

14/03/20

15/03/20

Intercontinental Hua Hin

Princess PA’s Beach Polo

Open

09/04/20 11/04/20

Garangula

Garangula Tournament

16 & 18

18/03/20

22/03/20

Hörnum

Beach Polo World Cup Sylt

Open

30/05/20 31/05/20

Eynesbury

Eynesbury Tournament

0, 4 – 6 & 8 – 10

20/03/20

22/03/20

Sandbanks

British Beach Polo Championships

Open

10/07/20 11/07/20

Killarney

Killarney Tournament

0, 4 & 8

21/03/20

22/03/20

New South Wales

Morton Cup

20

28/03/20

29/03/20

Sydney

Sydney Cup

0&4

28/03/20

29/03/20

Barbados Holders

Open

01/03/20 08/03/20

Holders/Apes Hill Pick A Team Tournament

4–6

10/03/20 15/03/20

Holders/Apes Hill AHPC Visitors Tour

Open

22/03/20 19/04/20

76

BPC Cheshire Tour

Polo Times, March 2020

Snow Polo Dates Kitzbühel

Snow Polo World Cup 2021

Open

14/01/21 17/01/21

St. Moritz

Snow Polo World Cup 2021

Open

29/01/21 31/01/21

www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo directory 8 Goal

Cirencester Guards RCBPC Cowdray Beaufort

Club 22+ Goal

Tournament

Start Date

End Date

RCBPC Cowdray Guards Cirencester Cowdray

Prince of Wales Trippetts Challenge Queen’s Cup Warwickshire Cup The King Power Gold Cup for The British Open

02/05/20 07/05/20 21/05/19 16/06/20 23/06/20

16/05/20 17/05/20 16/06/19 20/06/20 19/07/20

Duke of Sutherland Apsley Cup Indian Empire Shield Challenge Cup

19/05/20 10/06/20 30/06/20 20/07/20

07/06/20 28/06/20 18/07/20 02/08/20

Royal Windsor Cup Eduardo Moore Trophy Harrison Cup National 15 Goal Championship (County Cup) Arthur Lucas

02/06/20 23/06/20 13/07/20 04/08/20

21/06/20 12/07/20 01/08/20 16/08/20

19/08/20

30/08/20

Dollar Cup John Prestwich Prince of Wales The Queen Mother Trophy Duke of Wellington Cheltenham Cup Autumn League

11/05/20 01/06/20 15/06/20 29/06/20 01/08/20 25/08/20 07/09/20

31/05/20 13/06/20 27/06/20 11/07/20 16/08/20 05/09/20 20/09/20

18 Goal

15 Goal

Guards RCBPC Cowdray Cirencester Beaufort 12 Goal

Cowdray RCBPC Beaufort Cirencester Guards Cirencester Cowdray

11/05/20 05/06/20 01/07/20 20/07/20 10/08/20

25/05/20 28/06/20 18/07/20 02/08/20 23/08/20

Stoneythorpe Cup Eduardo Rojas Lanusse Trophy Binfield Heath Tournament Budgett Everett Roehampton Cup Kingscote Cup

11/05/20 02/06/20 06/07/20 30/07/20 11/08/20 25/08/20

24/05/20 13/06/20 12/07/20 09/08/20 23/08/20 06/09/20

Kirtlington 4 Goal Assam Cup Silver Leys 4 Goal Junior County Cup Rose Bowl DBPC 4 Goal

01/06/20 22/06/20 29/06/20 06/07/20 27/07/20 25/08/20

07/06/20 28/06/20 05/07/20 12/07/20 02/08/20 30/08/20

01/06/20 16/06/20 06/07/20 21/07/20 27/07/20 10/08/20 18/08/20

05/06/20 28/06/20 18/07/20 01/08/20 08/08/20 16/08/20 29/08/20

6 Goal

2019 Victor Ludorum and High Goal Dates

Cowdray Cirencester Guards Cowdray

Gerald Balding Archie David Julian & Howard Hipwood Holden White Wichenford Bowl

Dallas Burston Beaufort Binfield Heath Kirtlington Ham Cirencester 4 Goal

Kirtlington Rutland Silver Leys Cheshire Druids Lodge Dallas Burston Victrix Ludorum Knepp Castle Black Bears Cowdray Cirencester Beaufort RCBPC Guards

Quick Question Answer -

to the question posed on our Letters page

A: The La Martina brand was started by the Simonetti family in Buenos Aires

in 1985.

Club contacts UK and Ireland CLUB

PHONE

EMAIL

CLUB

PHONE

EMAIL

All Ireland Polo Club

00353 01 6896732

dstone@indigo.ie

Dundee and Perth Polo Club*

07831 365 194

jamesscrawford@aol.com

All England Polo Club Hickstead*

01273 834 315

polo@hickstead.co.uk

Eastwood Polo Club

07875 743475

frankums@googlemail.com

Apsley End Polo Club*

01462 712444

tobiana.scott@gmail.com

Edgeworth Polo Club

01285 821695

edgeworthpolo@gmail.com

Ash Farm Polo Club*

07799 812739

ashfarmpolo@hotmail.com

Edinburgh Polo Club*

01314 496696

djamesjamie@aol.com

Barfold Polo Club

07778 808853

mborwick@gmail.com

Emsworth Polo Grounds*

01344 883112

info@fourquarterspolo.co.uk

Bawtry Polo Club

01302 773282

info@bawtrypoloclub.co.uk

Epsom Polo Club*

07961 232106

epsompoloclub@hotmail.com

Beaufort Polo Club

01666 880510

enquiries@beaufortpoloclub.co.uk

FHM Polo Club*

07778 436468

frances@fhmpolo.co.uk

Beverley Polo Club*

01964 544877

info@beverleypoloclub.co.uk

Fifield Polo Club*

01628 620061

fifieldpoloclub@live.co.uk

Binfield Heath

01491 411969

bhpcmanager@gmail.com

Great Trippetts Polo Club

01428 741916

charles@trippetts.com

Blueys Polo Club*

07930 323263

polomanager@blueyspolo.co.uk

Guards Polo Club*

01784 434212

polo@guardspoloclub.com

Bramham Polo Academy

07811 993316

emmadvh@btinternet.com

Ham Polo Club

020 8334 0000

office@hampoloclub.com

Bunclody Polo Club

00353 87 6605917

info@poloclubbunclody.com

Hertfordshire Polo Club*

01707 256023

polo@hertspolo.co.uk

Burningfold Polo Club

01483 200722

derrek@burningfold.com

Home Farm Polo Grounds

07807672120

rachaelkearnet@hotmail.co.uk

Cambridge Polo Club*

07711 217004

cambridgepoloclub@icloud.com

Hurtwood Polo Club

01483 272828

gary@hurtwoodparkpolo.com

Cambridge County Polo Club*

01223 812922

info@cambridgecountypoloclub.co.uk

Kirtlington Park Polo Club

01869 350138

info@kirtlingtonparkpolo.co.uk

Carlton House

07901 561113

harrietservaes@hotmail.com

Knepp Castle Polo Club

07920 023639

info@aspectpolo.co.uk

Chester Racecourse Polo Club

01244 304602

amorris@chester-races.com

Leadenham Polo Club

07429 299026

office@leadenhampoloclub.com

Cheshire Polo Club

01270 611 100

info@cheshirepoloclub.co.uk

Longdole Polo Club*

01452 864544

info@longdolepolo.com

Chiltern Polo Club

07973 174542

info@chilternpoloclub.com

Moor Farm Polo Club

07494 114190

shop@moorfarmshop.co.uk

Cirencester Park Polo Club

01285 653225

info@cirencesterpolo.co.uk

Moor Hall Farm Polo Club*

01279 450637

alecbeve@btinternet.com

Cowdray Polo Club

01730 813257

enquiries@cowdraypolo.co.uk

New Forest Polo Club

07977 224404

annabelparryjoyner@yahoo.co.uk

Curraghmore Polo Club

00353 51 387102

mkennedy@cssgroup.ie

Norfolk Polo Club

01508 480400

office@norfolkpolo.co.uk

Dallas Burston Polo Club*

01926 811 111

enquiries@ixlevents.com

Northern Ireland Polo Club

07803 020577

info@northernirelandpoloclub.co.uk

Dorset Polo Club

01202 623985

office@dorsetpolo.co.uk

Offchurch Bury Polo Club*

07816 830887

info@offchurchburypoloclub.co.uk

Druids Lodge Polo Club*

01722 782597

abi@druidspolo.co.uk

Pangbourne Polo Club

07708 906810

aprice@polofix.com

www.polotimes.co.uk

Polo Times, March 2020

77

Polo directory CLUB

PHONE

EMAIL

CLUB

PHONE

EMAIL

Peover Polo Club

07766 016 833

polomanager@peoverpoloclub.co.uk

Sussex Polo Club*

01342 714920

info@sussexpolo.co.uk

Polo Wicklow*

00353 404 67164

siobhan@polowicklow.com

Taunton Vale Polo Club

01823 480460

nhs.wheelers@gmail.com

RAF Cranwell

07739 569491

rafcranwellpoloclub@yahoo.co.uk

Ranelagh Polo Club*

01344 885697

ranelagh@labravapolo.com

Tidworth Polo Club*

01980 846705

info@tidworthpolo.com

RCBPC*

01344 890060

polo@rcbpc.com

Toulston Polo Club

01422 372529

info@toulstonpoloclub.com

RMAS Polo Club

07973 174542

rmas-nc-aci-projinters@mod.uk

Triskelion Polo Club*

07624 272547

polo@triskelionpolo.club

Rugby Polo Club*

01788 817724

info@rugbypoloclub.com

Vale of York Polo Club*

07788 426968

info@valeofyorkpoloclub.co.uk

Rutland Polo Club

07772 040668

secretary@rutlandpoloclub.co.uk

Vaux Park Park Polo Club*

07703 524613

vppc@btconnect.com

Silver Leys Polo Club

07730 060200

silverleyspoloclub@gmail.com

West Wycombe Park Polo Club*

07787 560729

secretary@westwycombepolo.co.uk

St. Albans Polo Club

07956 017090

info@stalbanspoloclub.co.uk

Westcroft Park Polo Club*

01276 858545

info@westcroftparkpolo.co.uk

Stewarton Polo Club

07974 706045

info@stewartonpolo.co.uk

White Rose Polo Club*

01430 875767

info@whiterosepolo.co.uk

Suffolk Polo Club

07990 576974

aes3@cam.ac.uk

White Waltham Polo Club

07748 670587

kim@playpolo.co.uk

* Also open for arena polo in the UK winter

BEN HASTIE PHOTOGRAPHY - Equine & Countryside Photography specialising in Polo www.benhastiephotography.com/ 07970 348883 Cheltenham

Marketplace Equipment SCOREBOARDS AND CLOCKS DESIGNED FOR POLO Outdoor and arena sizes. Fully electronic, displaying the time counting down, both scores and chukka number. Automatic bell/ horn. Controlled wirelessly by a remote control you can even wear on your arm.

Visit www.SportingDesigns.co.uk or call +44 (0)7860 303217

Gossip

Nothing says victory like a resounding cheer, as Will Harper indicated when he defeated his father, James, in The New Zealand Open. Don’t rub it in too much Will!

Photograph by Horses in Heart

VICTORY FACE

Photograph by Dominic James | www.dominic-james.com

Sidelines

LAZY SUNDAYS

Ahead of the 2020 season, a well deserved rest is exactly what the doctor ordered, especially for this youngster… Life is just sooooo tiring sometimes!

LEAPING INTO SPRING! Spring time is the time for celebration!

Brit Milly Hine, Daryl Yeap and Thai Polo & Equestrian Club’s Nunthinee Tanners definitely had a spring in their step, caught expertly by photographer Dominic James.

HORSING AROUND Tell us yours at gossip@polotimes.co.uk Anonymity guaranteed if you want it...

78

Polo Times, March 2020

Our friends at The Gait Post have got the right idea this Pancake Day, or for the more ecclesiastical of us, Shrove Tuesday, with their equine example of pancake prowess. We think this will bring unbridled joy to some of our younger readers! Well done!

www.polotimes.co.uk

Horse Riding Holidays Worldwide info@farandride.com

01462 701110

Final bell

In association with Aprés Polo

Photograph by Gillian Hughes

Ireland’s greatest polo export, Sebastian Dawnay, has been riding high for decades, first conquering the British high goal scene, then finding his home in the heart of Berkshire. The progeny of an illustrious polo dynasty and son of the great Major Hugh Dawnay, he has had phenomenal success both on grass and in the arena, winning major titles from The Arena Gold Cup to The British Open. But, at the end of the day, Dawnay is a family man, who has found his niche exhibiting beautiful polo art in his gallery The Country House and Stables at RCBPC; the perfect way to share his knowledge of our sport and secure pieces of its history for years to come What is your biggest passion and why? My family and horses, because I owe everything to them.

What is your all-time best polo memory?

Winning The Gold Cup at Cowdray Park when I was 19-years-old (it was my dream and goal from about the age of 13).

Which sports do you like outside of polo?

Practically all sports at a professional level.

Favourite film and why? Trading Places and Coming to America, as both are incredibly well written comedies and deal with multiple social and economic issues.

Favourite song/album?

Beautiful Freak by Eels.

Who were/are your favourite teammates? Pete Webb. Pete and I have won a lot at 8 goal level and our styles of play seem to go well together and Javier Novillo Astrada – he was a real gentleman and took me under his wing for several years.

Hardest opponent?

Adolfo Cambiaso. I played against him several times and could never beat him, including The Gold Cup Final in 1998 and 2000, and The Queen’s Cup Final 2003. He is definitely outside of the matrix, as are his nephews Bartolito and Jeta.

80

Polo Times, March 2020

Favourite celebrity and why? I met Sienna Miller (without realising it,) at a private concert in London and she was so nice and humble. She does loads of charity work which I really admire. My wife said she liked the name Sienna for our daughter, and I thought, “Yes! I met a nice Sienna once!”

Best holiday destination & activity I travel a lot with work so haven’t really got a holiday destination, but Barbados and Mexico are very special places to play and going to Ireland is also an annual visit if possible, followed by a good pint of Guinness!

Favourite food/dish? Italian food is my favourite food and pesto pasta would be my favourite dish.

Best pony and why. Tic Tac Paddy Whack. I bred him from my favourite Argentine mare, Chinchy, who was a pocket rocket legend.

Favourite hobby outside of polo? I absolutely love my intelligent horsemanship training with Kelly Marks and Sandra Williams. I have learnt more about horses in the past year than in my entire equestrian life!

Are you passionately superstitious? Yes. I definitely used to be, especially during the high goal years, with my left boot always going on first before a game. Not so much now.

Most prized possession?

At the moment it’s a Charley Mackesy Original drawing from his December exhibition.

Describe yourself in three words…

Appreciative, passionate, loyal.

One thing which would surprise us about you?

I absolutely love all types of art and antiques and it’s been a dream come true to have started my business ‘The Country House and Stables’ based at RCBPC and more recently, exhibit at the prestigious Gallery 8 in London. Plus, I have been invited to reexhibit early next year. Also, I’m very proud to help support my charity The Alexander Devine Hospice for children in Maidenhead. www.polotimes.co.uk

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